Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 30, 2025

Breakthrough in treating diseases linked to obesity

Breakthrough in treating diseases linked to obesity

Researchers at two local universities have developed a drug that can treat diseases related to obesity.
The new drug, ABarginase, which can treat prediabetes, type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, recently won the grand prize at the Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.

Researchers from Polytechnic University and the Chinese University said the drug is a "safe and long-lasting cure to multiple obesity-related diseases."

They said following an eight-week observation that body weight, fatty mass, blood glucose levels and other characteristic features of diabetes in obese mice returned to normal levels after using the drug while on a normal diet.

Alisa Shum Sau-wun, associate professor in School of Biomedical Sciences at CUHK, said: "Currently, some diabetes drugs are very ineffective, others have adverse side effects, such as increasing risk of cancer. There are also diabetes drugs that cause obesity."

And the researchers reported: "Effects were apparent after the first injection. Fatty liver could be entirely reversed after regular use of the drug."

The drug uses arginine starvation, which suppresses fat synthesis, promotes fat breakdown and sensitizes cells to insulin.

They also found there is no drug resistance in a drug that exists naturally in the human body.

Shum said patients need one injection per week for the new drug while older drugs have to be taken two to three times daily.

Thomas Leung Yun-Chung, a Lo Ka Chung Charitable Foundation professor in pharmaceutical sciences at PolyU, said most people would be able to use the drug. He added: "All the test animals got much healthier after taking our drug."

Leung said the belief is that ABarginase should be much cheaper than existing drugs.

There is no drug approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for nonalcoholic fatty liver.

Patent applications have been filed in multiple jurisdictions. Researchers are now scaling up production of ABarginase in preparation for clinical trials.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
×