New BRP peptide shows promise as safe obesity therapy

Researchers at Stanford Medicine have identified a naturally occurring 12‑amino‑acid peptide, named BRP, that reduces appetite and body fat in animal studies without the gastrointestinal side effects typical of GLP‑1 drugs such as Ozempic or Wegovy. The peptide acts specifically on the hypothalamus, cutting food intake by up to half in mice and pigs and producing weight loss driven by fat loss while improving glucose and insulin tolerance. The discovery was made using an artificial‑intelligence algorithm that screened more than 20,000 genes for biologically active peptides. BRP is currently in pre‑clinical testing, and the team plans to move into human clinical trials.

A separate analysis of a 2025 U.S. dataset of 821 adults who had used GLP‑1 receptor agonists found that these medication users were less likely to commit violent crimes than non‑users, even when they displayed impulsivity or consumed alcohol. Published in the journal *Criminology*, the study suggests GLP‑1 drugs may dampen aggression by interacting with brain reward and stress pathways. The authors call for further research as the use of GLP‑1 analogues expands worldwide.