Scientists have engineered a revolutionary weight loss medication that could rival the effectiveness of gastric surgery.

The experimental drug achieves this by simultaneously activating four different hormone receptors rather than the three targeted by existing treatments, according to researchers at Tufts University.

Headed by Robinson Professor of Chemistry Krishna Kumar, the research team developed what they term a "tetra-functional" molecule.

This innovative compound combines the actions of GLP-1, GIP, glucagon and PYY hormones to potentially deliver weight reduction of up to 30 per cent.

This breakthrough represents a significant advance over current injectable medications, which typically achieve between six and 24 per cent weight loss.

This breakthrough represents a significant advance over current injectable medications, which typically achieve between six and 24 per cent weight loss.

The novel compound works by combining two distinct peptide structures joined together.

Unlike existing treatments that blend similar hormones into a single molecule, the Tufts researchers connected structurally different peptides to create their four-target drug.

Each hormone component serves a specific function. GLP-1 stimulates insulin production and creates feelings of satiety whilst slowing stomach emptying.

GIP similarly promotes fullness after meals. Glucagon paradoxically raises blood glucose but simultaneously increases cellular energy expenditure and suppresses appetite.

The fourth element, PYY, reduces hunger through different mechanisms than GLP-1 or GIP and may directly facilitate fat burning.

This multi-pronged approach aims to overcome individual variations in patient response.

"Obesity is linked to over 180 different disease conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis, liver disease, and type 2 diabetes, and affects over 650 million people worldwide," Professor Kumar stated.

"What drives us is the idea that we can design a single drug to treat obesity and simultaneously mitigate the risk of developing a long list of health problems plaguing society."

The research, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, addresses critical limitations of existing treatments.

Current medications require weekly injections and frequently cause severe nausea, leading approximately 40 per cent of users to abandon treatment within the first month.

The new medication offers several potential benefits beyond existing treatments.

Martin Beinborn, a visiting scholar in the Department of Chemistry, explained that targeting four hormone receptors simultaneously could help standardise results across diverse patient populations.

Current medications require weekly injections

"By hitting four different hormone receptors at the same time, we hope to improve the chances of averaging out such variation toward the goal of achieving greater and more consistent overall effectiveness," Beinborn said.

Additionally, the compound may address the common problem of weight regain after treatment cessation.

Beinborn suggested that more advanced multi-receptor drugs could approach the lasting results typically seen only with bariatric surgery.