Obesity Pill My Not Be Too Far Off

British researchers have developed a molecule that mimics exercise by convincing cells that their energy supply has been depleted. As tested in mice, "compound 14" triggers a series of events in the cell, first inhibiting an enzyme called ATIC which plays a central role in insulin signaling in the body. With ATIC blocked, the “master regulator” of metabolism – ZMP – builds up in cells. They then increase their glucose update and metabolism, exactly what happens during exercise. The scientists hope to test the compound for safety and efficacy in humans, and then develop a therapy – a pill, perhaps – that would target obesity and type 2 diabetes.