Tirapatide has become an important drug for the treatment of obesity and related diseases such as diabetes, but scientists are still working to understand its mechanism of action. A mouse study suggests the drug may directly improve metabolism by activating brown adipose tissue, a type of fat tissue that specifically utilizes energy.
The researchers say these findings provide new clues to understanding the mechanism of action of telapatrid and may help develop a broader range of treatments for obesity and other metabolic disorders.
The study was led by Marion Perou, a researcher at the Institute of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (IBUB), the Institute of Sant Joan de Diu (IRSJD) and the Centre for Research on Obesity and Nutritional Physiology and Pathology (CIBEROBN) at the University of Barcelona.
Tirapat (generic name of Munjaro) is approved for the treatment of obesity or overweight in adults with underlying medical conditions, and for the treatment of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.
Unlike some other weight-loss drugs, tezapatide simultaneously acts on the receptors of two hormonal factors: GIP and GLP-1. This dual mechanism can lead to significant weight loss, primarily because the drug reduces food intake.
The researchers wanted to determine whether the telapatrid would also cause any metabolic changes that couldn’t simply be explained by reduced food intake.
To conduct the study, the team of scientists used a mouse model to examine the drug’s effects on various types of fat deposition, as such detailed tissue analysis is difficult to conduct directly in humans. Obese mice (fed a high-fat diet) were treated with the thesapeptide.
The researchers then compared these animals with mice that did not receive the drug but were given the same amount of food. By controlling food intake in this way, the scientists were able to distinguish between changes directly caused by tisepamide and those caused by reduced calorie intake.
Analysis shows that tezepatide is capable of activating brown adipose tissue. Unlike white adipose tissue, which primarily stores fat and tends to deteriorate in obesity, brown adipose tissue is specifically designed to utilize energy and burn calories from food.
”This activation is associated with an increased capacity to burn metabolic energy and the production of bartokines (a molecule beneficial for metabolism) by brown adipose tissue,” said Marion Perroux.
The study results suggest that the effects of telapatrid on metabolism may extend beyond weight loss caused by appetite suppression and decreased food intake.
”This drug not only helps with weight loss but also speeds up metabolism. Active brown adipose tissue can ‘burn’ glucose and fat in the body, which not only helps with weight loss but also lowers blood sugar and fat levels, and improves metabolism,” the researchers noted.
Scientists have long considered brown adipose tissue activation as a potentially effective treatment strategy for obesity and other metabolic diseases. However, previous attempts to activate brown adipose tissue with drugs have often failed due to side effects, particularly those affecting the heart.
”Although telapatide can activate brown adipose tissue, it does not have a negative effect; on the contrary, it has demonstrated cardiovascular benefits. If our results are confirmed in clinical trials, this will further highlight the importance of developing therapeutic strategies that not only reduce food intake but also increase energy expenditure and activate brown adipose tissue,” the researchers explained.
The findings support the idea that obesity treatment may be more effective if it targets multiple physiological processes simultaneously, rather than just appetite.
She added: “It helps improve weight control and reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and other metabolic disorders.”
A clearer understanding of telapatide’s mechanism of action may also influence how similar drugs are prescribed in the future.
She emphasized: “Determining which patient groups will benefit most, such as those with impaired energy metabolism, will open the door to more personalized medicine based not only on appetite or weight control but also on overall metabolic status.”
However, the researchers caution that these results, obtained in mice, cannot yet be confidently stated as applicable to humans. Metabolism in humans and mice can differ significantly, as can fat distribution and drug response.
”Because this study was conducted in mice, we had to exercise caution, as different species may have significant differences in metabolic regulation, fat distribution, and drug response. Therefore, we need additional clinical data on the effects of these drugs on human adipose tissue,” Peruu concluded.
Subscribe to the free ScienceDaily email newsletter to receive daily and weekly updates and stay up-to-date. Or explore our many news sources in your RSS reader:
Share your thoughts on ScienceDaily—we welcome all comments, both positive and negative. Are you experiencing problems using the site? Have any questions?
Post time: Oct-16-2026