Impact Story #15
The Weight-Loss Injection
New drugs for obesity and diabetes are transforming treatment worldwide. Groundbreaking hormone research at Helmholtz Munich has played a key role in this progress.
Obesity and type 2 diabetes are among the most widespread diseases worldwide. For a long time, drug therapies for severe obesity had limited effectiveness. Advances in research on the hormonal regulation of hunger and metabolism opened up new possibilities.
Matthias Tschöp and his team at Helmholtz Munich investigated the communication between the gut and the brain. Their work demonstrated how multiple hormones interact to regulate appetite, energy expenditure, and blood sugar levels. Building on this, they collaborated with international partners to develop the concept of polyagonists—active compounds that simultaneously activate multiple hormonal signaling pathways.
This research shaped the development of combined hormone therapies, including modern GLP-1- and GIP-based medications for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Today, millions of patients worldwide benefit from substantial weight loss and improved blood sugar control.
At the same time, societal perspectives are shifting, with obesity increasingly recognized as a complex metabolic disorder amenable to medical treatment.
Image: Alones/Shutterstock
