Researchers at Stanford University, using artificial intelligence, have identified a naturally occurring molecule, BRP, which, in animal experiments, significantly suppressed appetite and helped reduce body fat. After being administered the molecule, mice and minipigs consumed up to 50 per cent less food, whilst obese animals lost weight primarily from fat deposits. The researchers believe that the discovery could help develop a new generation of anti-obesity drugs with a different mechanism of action to that of the popular Ozempic.
- Scientists at Stanford have discovered the natural peptide BRP using AI.
- In animal experiments, it reduced food intake by up to 50 per cent.
- Obese mice lost mainly fat mass without any significant loss of muscle.
- BRP affects appetite regulation in a different way to semaglutide.
Artificial intelligence has helped identify a molecule that had previously gone unnoticed
Scientists at Stanford School of Medicine have developed an algorithm Peptide Predictor, which analyses human genes and predicts the formation of biologically active peptides — small molecules capable of influencing cellular function.
The search covered approximately 20,000 genes that encode proteins. Following several rounds of selection, the researchers identified 373 protein molecules, from which 2,683 different peptides could potentially be formed.
The 100 most promising compounds were selected for laboratory testing. Their activity was investigated using cultured nerve cells.
The peptide consisting of 12 amino acids, which has been named BRP — short for BRINP2-related peptide — attracted the most attention.
In laboratory conditions, it increased the activity of certain nerve cells by approximately tenfold compared with the control group. By way of comparison, GLP-1, on whose mechanism the action of semaglutide is based, increased cell activity threefold.
These figures reflect the response of cells in a specific experiment; they do not imply that BRP is three times more effective than Ozempic for weight loss.
After being administered BRP, the mice and mini-pigs ate half as much
To investigate the effect of the molecule on a living organism, the researchers carried out experiments on mice and minipigs.
The animals were administered BRP intramuscularly shortly before feeding. Over the following hour, they consumed up to 50 per cent less food compared with the corresponding control values.
A separate study was carried out on obese mice. The animals were given daily injections of BRP for two weeks.
Over the course of 14 days, the mice in the experimental group lost an average of three grams of body weight. Meanwhile, the animals that did not receive the drug gained approximately three grams.
Researchers found that almost all the weight loss in animals administered BRP was attributable to adipose tissue. No significant reduction in muscle mass was observed.
In addition, the test mice showed improved glucose tolerance and insulin response.
However, these results have been obtained solely from animal experiments. They do not prove that a similar effect will be observed in humans.
How does BRP differ from Ozempic?
A popular medicine Ozempic contains semaglutide — a substance that mimics the action of a hormone GLP-1. It affects the regulation of blood sugar levels, the feeling of fullness and the rate at which the stomach empties.
GLP-1 receptors are found not only in the brain, but also in the pancreas, the digestive system and other tissues of the body.
This is precisely why medicines in this group can have a variety of physiological effects, including causing nausea, constipation and other digestive problems.
According to preliminary data, the BRP molecule acts via a different mechanism.
Researchers have found that it activates certain groups of nerve cells in the hypothalamus — a region of the brain involved in regulating appetite, energy metabolism and the sensation of hunger.
Principal investigator, Professor at Stanford University Katrin Svensson, explained that a more selective effect on nerve cells could, in theory, make it possible to control appetite without some of the undesirable effects associated with GLP-1 drugs.
However, researchers have yet to identify the exact cellular receptor through which BRP exerts its effects.
Could a new molecule help people lose weight without feeling sick or losing muscle mass?
One of the most interesting features of the experiments was the absence of a number of undesirable changes in the behaviour of the test animals.
The researchers found no significant differences in locomotor activity, water intake, anxiety-related behaviour or faecal output between the animals administered BRP and the control groups.
The weight loss was also almost entirely due to a reduction in adipose tissue.
This is important for the development of anti-obesity drugs, as people may lose muscle tissue as well as fat mass, which has a negative impact on physical strength and metabolism.
At the same time, the absence of noticeable adverse effects in small-scale animal experiments does not guarantee that the future drug will be safe for humans.
In particular, it will only be possible to determine the risk of nausea or long-term digestive problems following appropriate clinical trials.
When can a new treatment be tested on people?
Despite the promising results, BRP remains an experimental molecule rather than a registered medicinal product.
Scientists are working to identify its cellular receptors and to determine how long the peptide’s effect lasts after administration.
One of the problems is that such molecules can break down relatively quickly within the body. For practical application, it may be necessary to modify BRP to ensure a longer-lasting effect without the need for frequent injections.
Katrin Svensson co-founded the biotechnology company Merrifield Therapeutics, which is involved in advancing research into BRP. Alongside the paper’s lead author, Leticia Coassolo, she is also listed as one of the inventors on patents relating to the application of these peptides.
The next stage should be human trials, which will enable researchers to determine the molecule’s safety, the optimal dosage and its actual ability to reduce body weight.
As of early November 2026, there are no confirmed results from human clinical trials of BRP in the available scientific literature.
That is precisely why comparisons with Ozempic are currently limited to specific effects observed in the laboratory and in animal studies. Further research and safety testing will be required before the drug can be developed.
