Scientists at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring molecule that appears to mimic some of the weight loss effects of semaglutide, the drug widely known as Ozempic. In animal studies, the molecule reduced appetite and body weight while avoiding several common side effects such as nausea, constipation, and muscle loss.
The molecule, called BRP, works through a different but related biological pathway and activates distinct groups of neurons in the brain. This suggests it may offer a more precise way to control appetite and metabolism.
“The receptors targeted by semaglutide are found in the brain but also in the gut, pancreas and other tissues,” said assistant professor of pathology Katrin Svensson, PhD.
That’s why Ozempic has widespread effects including slowing the movement of food through the digestive tract and lowering blood sugar levels. In contrast, BRP appears to act specifically in the hypothalamus, which controls appetite and metabolism.
Svensson, the senior author of the study published in Nature, has also co-founded a company that plans to begin human clinical trials in the near future. The study’s lead author is senior research scientist Laetitia Coassolo, PhD.
How Artificial Intelligence led to the discovery
Researchers used AI to search for new hormone-like molecules that affect metabolism.
They looked at prohormones—proteins that can be split into smaller pieces called peptides. Finding useful ones is difficult because most fragments are inactive.
To solve this, they created an AI tool called Peptide Predictor, which scanned around 20,000 human genes. It narrowed the search to 373 promising proteins and identified over 2,600 possible peptides.
From these, scientists selected 100 candidates—including GLP-1, the hormone mimicked by semaglutide—and tested them on brain cells.
As expected, GLP-1 significantly increased activity in the neurons. However, one much smaller peptide, made up of only 12 amino acids, produced an even stronger response, boosting activity tenfold compared to control cells.
This peptide was named BRP, after its parent molecule BPM/retinoic acid inducible neural specific 2, or BRINP2 (BRINP2-related-peptide).
Animal studies show reduced appetite and fat loss
When tested in lean mice and minipigs (which more closely mirror human metabolism and eating patterns than mice do), BRP significantly reduced food intake. A single injection before feeding lowered consumption by up to 50% within an hour.
In obese mice, daily injections over 14 days led to an average weight loss of 3 grams, primarily from fat. In contrast, untreated mice gained about 3 grams during the same period. The treated animals also showed improvements in glucose and insulin tolerance.
Importantly, the animals did not show changes in movement, water intake, anxiety-like behavior, or digestion. Additional analyses confirmed that BRP works through different brain and metabolic pathways than GLP-1 or semaglutide.
A more targeted approach to weight loss
The researchers are now working to identify the specific receptors that interact with BRP and to better understand how it functions in the body. They are also exploring ways to extend its effects so it could be used more conveniently if it proves effective in people.
“The lack of effective drugs to treat obesity in humans has been a problem for decades,” Svensson said.
“Nothing we’ve tested before has compared to semaglutide’s ability to decrease appetite and body weight. We are very eager to learn if it is safe and effective in humans.”
13.04.2026.
SOURCE
Stanford Medicine. “Stanford scientists discover “natural Ozempic” without side effects.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 April 2026. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260412221946.htm>.
