Glukagon, das vergessene Hormon

Glucagon increases blood glucose via stimulation of gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis. Often reduced to its glycemic effects, the fact that this hormone has multiple beneficial effects on metabolism is frequently neglected. It decreases body weight via a reduction in food intake, an increase in energy expenditure, enhanced lipolysis and inhibition of lipogenesis. Although the glycemic effects of glucagon limit its pharmacological potential in the treatment of obesity, biomolecules have recently been generated that combine the beneficial effects of glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) in a single molecule of enhanced potency and sustained action. The principle of these GLP-1/glucagon co-agonists is that the anorectic effect of GLP-1 synergizes with the thermogenic and lipolytic effect of glucagon to drive weight loss, while the insulinotropic effect of GLP-1 counteracts any diabetogenic liability residing in glucagon receptor agonism. Several such GLP-1/glucagon co-agonists are currently in clinical development for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.