Uruguayan scientists unveil SANA, South America’s first novel obesity drug. Published in Nature Metabolism, this compound stimulates energy expenditure and reduces fat mass while preserving muscle.

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY – In a significant scientific advancement poised to potentially revolutionize global obesity treatment, Uruguayan scientists at Eolo Pharma, a clinical-stage biotechnology company headquartered in Montevideo, have achieved profoundly promising results in the initial stages of developing SANA. This pioneering first-in-class compound, a nitroalkene derivative of salicylate, represents South America’s inaugural entry into the innovative pharmacological battle against obesity and metabolic disorders, distinguishing itself through a unique mechanism that stimulates cellular energy expenditure.

The groundbreaking findings, recently published in the prestigious peer-reviewed journal Nature Metabolism, highlight SANA’s compelling safety profile, commendable tolerability, and early efficacy signals in human subjects. Unlike many existing or investigational obesity treatments that primarily focus on appetite suppression, SANA’s innovative approach centers on pharmacologically activating creatine-dependent thermogenesis—a natural, yet underexplored, heat-generating mechanism within cells, particularly in adipose (fat) tissue.

A Novel Mechanism for Combating Metabolic Dysregulation

The research elucidates that SANA enhances mitochondrial respiration and augments creatine-dependent energy expenditure within fat cells, effectively promoting a reduction in fat mass without necessitating a decrease in food intake. This distinct mechanism of action is particularly noteworthy because preclinical models have demonstrated SANA’s remarkable ability to significantly preserve and even increase lean muscle mass while concurrently reducing fat. This contrasts sharply with some currently marketed GLP-1 receptor agonists, which are occasionally associated with muscle wasting.

In a meticulously conducted double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase 1a/b study, both healthy lean individuals and participants with obesity received oral SANA for a period of 15 days. The trial meticulously assessed safety and tolerability across all dose levels, reporting no serious adverse events. Crucially, in the Phase 1b cohort comprising individuals with obesity, SANA treatment led to a statistically significant reduction in body weight compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, patients exhibited palpable improvements in fasting glucose levels and insulin resistance, as quantified by HOMA-IR, underscoring SANA’s broader metabolic benefits.

Global Implications from a Regional Breakthrough

The development of SANA by Eolo Pharma marks a pivotal moment for South American biotechnology and global health. As the continent grapples with rising rates of overweight and obesity – with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reporting over 67% of adults in the Americas are overweight or obese – the emergence of a homegrown, novel therapeutic candidate offers immense hope. “SANA is the result of over a decade of rigorous science in Latin America that has the potential to reshape how we treat obesity and insulin resistance,” remarked María Pía Garat, CEO and Co-Founder of Eolo Pharma, emphasizing the company’s pride in leading this charge from discovery into clinical trials.

Eolo Pharma is poised to initiate Phase 2 clinical trials for SANA later in 2025. These crucial subsequent phases will delve deeper into the compound’s long-term safety and efficacy, exploring its potential both as a standalone therapy and in synergistic combination with existing treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other cardiometabolic diseases. This pioneering endeavor from Uruguay holds the promise of ushering in a new era of metabolic disease management, offering a differentiated and potentially safer therapeutic pathway for millions worldwide.

Follow Europeans24.com or search on Google for more!