The Beta-2 Agonist That Doesn't Stop Working — Tore Bengtsson

May 6
45 mins

Episode Description

Every beta-2 agonist ever tested for muscle growth hits the same wall: desensitization. Dr. Tore Bengtsson built one that doesn't.

A professor at Stockholm University and founder of Atrogi, Dr. Bengtsson has spent 25 years studying how beta-adrenergic receptors regulate metabolism, muscle, and brown fat. His lab developed 1,500+ compounds that activate beta-2 through distinct signaling pathways, and one is now heading into Phase 2 clinical trials. He shares how a "failed" experiment cracked the problem, why incretins only address half of metabolic disease problems, and what muscle loss after 50 means for drug discovery strategy.


Key takeaways:

  • Classical beta-2 agonists fail because desensitization shuts down the response
  • Selectively activating specific signaling pathways from one receptor can produce entirely different outcomes
  • Incretins reduce energy intake — but the energy expenditure side remains wide open
  • The correlation between muscle mass and longevity is one of the most underserved areas in metabolic medicine

🔗 Dr. GPCR Ecosystem: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/

🎓 Membership & Pricing: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/university-pricing

📰 Weekly News: https://www.ecosystem.drgpcr.com/gpcr-weekly-news

See all episodes