Farooqi Lab

With thanks to our colleagues, collaborators, funders and most importantly, all the participants in our studies @cambridgebrc.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social @ims-mrl.bsky.social, Rare Disease UK (
@rarediseaseuk on X) and the Cambridge Metabolic Network (@CamMetaboNet on X)
(6/6)

People with MC4R deficiency will likely benefit from Tirzepatide and should have access to it.
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Tirzepatide leads to weight reduction in people with obesity due to MC4R deficiency - Nature Medicine Analyzing data from the SURMOUNT-1 trial, the authors show that the weight loss effects of tirzepatide treatment are similar in carriers and noncarriers of MC4R pathogenic mutations.

In a second paper in Nature Medicine, we showed that people with MC4R deficiency in the SUSTAIN-1 trial, lost weight with Tirzepatide. The amount of weight lost was comparable to people with common obesity.
DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
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These studies demonstrate that brain MC4Rs regulate human lipid metabolism. Further studies could provide new approaches to reducing cardiovascular disease risk.
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Despite severe obesity, MC4R deficient people had lower LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and cardiovascular risk compared to people in UK Biobank of the same age and BMI.
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Obesity due to MC4R deficiency is associated with reduced cholesterol, triglycerides and cardiovascular disease risk - Nature Medicine The authors explore the impact of MC4R deficiency on lipid metabolism in humans, based on two large cohorts. Findings indicate that individuals with obesity due to MC4R deficiency have lower cholester...

In a paper just published in Nature Medicine, we characterised the largest cohort of people with loss-of-function mutations in the Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene.
DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
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Thank you!

Cambridge Professor honoured with prestigious Endocrine Society award, marking a second consecutive win for Metabolic Science at the Biomedical Research Centre - NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Cen... Professor Farooqi has been awarded the esteemed Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research. This is the second year running that a Cambridge BRC researcher in the field of metaboli...

👏Many congratulations👏 to Professor Sadaf Farooqi
@farooqi-lab.bsky.social for being honoured with the prestigious Gerald D Aurbach Award by the Endocrine Society
for Outstanding Translational Research
More👉 bit.ly/46gFx1d
@ims-mrl.bsky.social @cuh.nhs.uk @cam.ac.uk @endocrinesociety.bsky.social

Thank you to the @endocrinesociety.bsky.social for this prestigious honour!

Thank you!

🙌Many congratulations to all winners, but in particular our very own Professor Sadaf Farooqi as recipient of the Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research.

ℹ️https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/news/professor-sadaf-farooqi-honoured-endocrine-society-2026-laureate-award

Professor Farooqi to receive 2026 Laureate Award from @endocrinesociety.bsky.social!
Details on Endocrine Society website and here:
www.goos.org.uk/resource-cen...

#4
With thanks to our collaborators and funders @cambridgebrc.bsky.social @wellcometrust.bsky.social @tesscacciottolo.bsky.social

#3
And the benefits of GCGR agonists which reduce liver fat in people with obesity and MASLD.
@rarediseaseuk (on X) @CamMetaboNet (on X) @ims-mrl.bsky.social

#2
Results are relevant for understanding the risks associated with GCGR antagonists which have been trialled in people with type 2 diabetes.

Graphical abstract of "Glucagon Receptor deficiency causes early-onset hepatic steatosis"paper published in Diabetes 2025

#1
In a paper just published online in Diabetes, we showed that homozygous loss-of-function mutations in the Glucagon receptor (GCGR) cause early-onset hepatic steatosis in people.
DOI: doi.org/10.2337/db25...