Study: Common Gut Bacteria May Reduce Effectiveness of Diabetes and Cancer Drugs

New Delhi: A new study by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and Yale University has revealed that common gut bacteria can interfere with the effectiveness of several oral medications, including those used for migraines, depression, type 2 diabetes, and prostate cancer. Published in Nature Chemistry, the study highlights how certain gut microbes metabolise drugs that target a crucial class of cellular receptors known as GPCRs (G protein-coupled receptors), which are involved in a wide range of physiological processes.

More than 400 medications approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work by targeting GPCRs. These include therapies for common conditions such as psychiatric disorders, metabolic diseases, and various cancers. However, the new findings indicate that gut microbiota can chemically alter these drugs, potentially reducing their therapeutic potency.

“Our goal is to better understand how GPCR-targeted drugs interact with the human gut microbiome, which is key to advancing personalised medicine,” said Dr. Qihao Wu, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Pharmacy. He noted that this research could pave the way for improved drug design and treatment strategies tailored to individual microbiomes.

To explore this interaction, researchers constructed a synthetic microbial community consisting of 30 bacterial strains commonly found in the human gut. They then tested the impact of these microbes on 127 different GPCR-targeting drugs by exposing the bacteria to each drug in a controlled lab environment.

The study found that the bacterial community metabolised 30 of the 127 drugs tested. Among these, 12 drugs were significantly broken down, with much of the original drug compound being transformed into different chemical structures. Such transformations could severely alter the intended function and absorption of the drugs, potentially making them less effective in treating diseases.

The researchers caution that more studies are needed to assess the clinical relevance of these findings in real-world patient settings. Importantly, they advise patients not to alter or discontinue their medications without consulting healthcare professionals.