Experts from the University of Florida and Washington University in St. Louis developed a means that can fulfill the dream of many: to get the effect of physical training without resorting to it. The new drug is in the very early stages of development, but in initial experiments on rodents it gives the expected result. It triggers a natural metabolic mechanism that is usually associated with exercise.
When administered daily to mice, SLU-PP-332 improved fitness, muscle function and endurance. All this was previously achieved only through training. The idea of creating a pill that could replace exercise has been in the air for a long time. However, it was believed that it was difficult to obtain such an effect using pharmaceutical methods.
Through long experiments, the study authors were able to first achieve that SLU-PP-332 increased the number of muscle fibers resistant to fatigue in mice. This increased the endurance of the rodents, who could run 45 percent further and 70 percent longer than animals that did not receive the drug. Their skeletal muscle cells were better able to maintain energy balance.
Later experiments showed that mice given SLU-PP-332 twice a day gained 10 times less fat than their counterparts. Although they ate exactly the same and had the same level of physical activity. The drug forced the body to burn fat first.
Researchers will continue testing on rodents, including to identify side effects. But they are already thinking about how to transfer this experience to create medicines that are needed by people experiencing problems with motor activity.
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