The world's first anti-obesity vaccine has shown promising results in boosting weight loss, according to a study. Keith Haffer from Braasch Biotech LLC, south Dakota, who developed the vaccines in two versions JH17 and JH18, derived from a peptide hormone somatostatin, tested them in two groups of diet induced obese male mice, and compared with a group of mice that received saline injections.

Somatostatin inhibits the action of growth hormone (GH) and insulin like growth factor (IGF1), both of which increase metabolism and result in weight loss.

Obesity and obesity related disease have become growing health issues worldwide.

Mice in all groups had been fed a high fat diet for eight weeks prior to the study and continued to eat the same food for the duration of the six week study. The vaccinations were administered twice at the start of the study followed by a booster vaccination on day 22, the Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology reported.

Four days after the first injection of modified somatostatin, the vaccinated mice had a 10 per cent drop in body weight (not seen in the mice receiving saline shots), said a university statement.

Later, results showed that both vaccines induced antibodies to somatostatin and significantly reduced body weight, sustaining the lower body weight, without affecting normal levels of the growth hormone IGF1, or insulin levels.

"This study demonstrates the possibility of treating obesity with vaccination," Keith explained. "Treatment of human obesity with vaccination would provide physicians with a drug and surgical free option against the weight epidemic."

Braasch Biotech LLC is a privately held company that specialises in the development of bio pharmaceutical vaccine products for the human and veterinary health care markets. Specifically, Braasch has developed the world first anti-obesity vaccine.