Objectives

Functional co- and tri-agonists at the receptors for GLP-1, GIP and glucagon effectively decrease body weight and hyperglycemia but are associated with adverse gastrointestinal effects related to GLP-1R agonism. Here we report the discovery that obesity can be reversed in the absence of a functional GLP-1R. It propelled the identification of a unimolecular GIPR:GCGR co-agonist lacking GLP-1 activity that corrects obesity in obese mice and rats.

Methods

Selective, dual, and triple sustained-action agonists at GIPR, GCGR and GLP-1R were used to assess body weight and glucose management in diet-induced obese (DIO) wildtype (WT) and GLP-1R knock-out (KO) mice. Indirect calorimetry and pair-feeding studies were used to characterize the magnitude of weight lowering specifically to suppression of food intake relative to energy expenditure.

Results

When used in physical co-mixture, selective GIPR agonism interacts with selective GCGR agonism to correct obesity and enhance glycemia in DIO mice. Retatrutide a balanced GLP-1R:GIPR:GCGR triagonist normalized body weight in obese GLP-1R KO mice. BWB3054, a fatty acylated GIPR:GCGR co-agonist, was identified as comparably potent as retatrutide to induce cAMP production at the mGIPR, and 4-fold reduced at mGCGR, but notably more than 100-fold diminished at mGLP-1R. Despite minimal relative GLP-1R potency, BWB3054 reduces excess body weight in obese DIO-mice to a similar degree as that observed for retatrutide in obese GLP-1R KO mice.

Conclusions

Correction of obesity and glycemia in mice without employing GLP-1 agonism was demonstrated by three independent methods (GLP-1R KO with retatrutide, GIPR:GCGR physical co-agonism mixture, and GIPR:GCGR covalent co-agonist) which advocate for the prospect that the adverse GI effects commonly associated with its use might be avoided.