Why Scientific Research Must Never Stop
The current U.S. administration has tried to stop or delay basic and clinical research related to human conditions and diseases, and in the next few Memos, I’m going to illustrate why that’s a serious mistake. When I’ve laid it out, you can decide for yourself whether clinical research is a waste of money or critical for human health and well-being.
Example One: Glucagon-like Peptides
Sometime during the last century, chemicals were found in the intestines that seemed to increase the release of insulin in response to glucose. It wasn’t until the early 1980s that a gene was identified that resulted in the manufacture of proglucagon. Continued research found that when the protein was unfolded, it was responsible for the production of six different hormones. While all are important, one in particular has become popular 40 years later: GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). Depending on where it’s produced, its major function is to increase satiety by delaying digestion in the stomach. The net effect is to reduce food intake; that impacts glucose levels in people with pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes, which can lead to weight loss and the possible prevention of every other condition downstream from diabetes such as cardiovascular disease or diabetic neuropathy.
You may recognize GLP-1 agonists, chemicals which will turn the production on, by their brand names such as Ozempic and Trulicity. They are helping millions of people control their type 2 diabetes with a side benefit of weight loss. From the time that the chemical was discovered, through identifying the gene that produces it, and the development of a chemical that could stimulate the gene to produce GLP-1, the process took over 50 years. The scientists began with basic research and ended with clinical trials to prove the efficacy of the medication. And the research is still not done—if research is able to continue to find something that stimulates only GLP-1 receptors in specific locations in the body instead of systemically, side effects could be controlled more effectively.
Another illustration on Saturday. Tomorrow is the March Insider Conference Call. The primary topic will be more detail on how drugs like Ozempic work as well as answering your questions. Maybe it’s time you become an Insider and join the call.
What are you prepared to do today?
Dr. Chet
Reference: J Clin Invest. 2017 Dec 1;127(12):4217–4227. doi: 10.1172/JCI97233
