'Gym pill' for a no-work six-pack - Regeneron News

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'Gym pill' for a no-work six-pack

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5301112.stm

The pill would maintain muscle tone without the need for pumping iron

Scientists are racing to develop a muscle drug that could allow

people to stay toned without exercising. The aim is to prevent muscle

weakness and wasting in the sick and elderly and to help make long

space flights feasible for humans.

But anti-wasting drugs would inevitably be tempting for athletes,

experts told New Scientist magazine.

Teams have been studying the genetic pathways controlling how muscle

builds up and is broken down in the body.

Tests on rodents showed that manipulating these pathways can halt

muscle wastage from disuse or disease. At least three research groups

have identified some of the genes responsible.

Alfred Goldberg and colleagues at Harvard University in the US and a

pharmaceutical company Regeneron have found genes called atrogin1 and

muRF1 that are active during muscle wasting.

A team at Purdue University, Indiana, has been looking at a gene

called erg1.

Professor Greenhaff, from Nottingham University Scientists are

confident that they will soon have a workable therapy ready for

testing in humans.

Such drugs could be given to patients confined to bed for more than a

few days or to elderly patients to help keep them mobile.The drugs

might mean that people with broken bones could avoid long and painful

physiotherapy sessions to rebuild muscle strength. Weaning people off

respirators would also become easier as doctors could prevent wasting

of the diaphragm. NASA is also interested in the medicines because

astronauts lose muscle mass on long missions.

But while there are valid medical and space applications for anti-

wasting drugs, they will inevitably be tempting for athletes, Dr

Goldberg said.

Experts warn that the although the drugs would maintain muscle size,

they would not provide any of the other health benefits of regular

exercise.

Professor Greenhaff at Nottingham University in the UK has been

conducting similar research into muscle growth and wasting. " It is

our hope that its use will be on serious medical conditions rather

than for those desiring a 'gym in a bottle. "

Dr. at the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign said: " It's

extremely exciting and of enormous potential for clinical

intervention. But we need to do these experiments in patients now.

And there is a potential for abuse of these drugs, " he added. He said

that the role of exercise had been underplayed.

" Contraction of the muscle itself is important. Exercise itself is

the most highly potent stimulus of muscle growth. We must also look

closer at nutrition as well. " He said dietary intake of carbohydrate

and protein is known to promote muscle protein synthesis.

Dr. said: " In order for this treatment to be truly

beneficial it is important that muscle strength is also increased and

future trials and research will be key in determining whether this is

the case. "

She said a pill to prevent muscle loss would unfortunately not be

able to change the genetic cause of muscular dystrophy, but might

slow down the disease progression. " It is our hope that if this

research becomes a workable drug the concentration of its use will be

on serious medical conditions, such as muscular dystrophy, rather

than for those desiring a 'gym in a bottle'. "