Are scientists one step closer to finding the secret weapon in the fight against obesity and diabetics? French researchers claim to have discovered a drug that "tricks the body into burning off fat," regardless of the body’s diet, according to a new study published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

The University of Louis Pasteur researchers found that giving mice a low dose of the GlaxoSmithKline drug SRT1720 for 10 weeks partially protected them from gaining weight on a high-fat diet. The drug works by activating an enzyme that help the animals burn more energy and lowers their insulin and glucose levels.

The experimental drug SRT1720, a chemical cousin of resveratrol, a red wine extract known for its anti-aging powers and for its benefits on heart health, targets the SIRT1 gene and activates one of several enzymes that regulate the function of mitochondria, cellular power generators that convert glucose into chemical energy.

The drug is a "prime candidate" for research on SIRT1 treatment for metabolic disorders, the researchers said. The drug was developed by Sirtris Pharmaceuticals, a GlaxoSmithKline company.

"We are activating the same enzymes that are activated when people go to the gym," said Peter Elliott, a vice president at Sirtris Pharmaceuticals. Tests in mice proved that low doses of resveratrol mimic the effects of diets with 20% to 30% fewer calories than a typical diet.

The scientists tried to create a more potent drug that would work just like resveratrol. With this drug, scientists had the chance to study the effects that would have been achieved in mice treated with 35 bottles of wine a day.

The new study has shown that even a low dose of the drug may be effective. A low dose of SRT1720 partially protected mice from gaining weight on a high-fat diet after 10 weeks of treatment. The drug appeared to improve blood sugar tolerance and insulin sensitivity, which are important for warding off diabetes. However, the scientists say further studies are needed to test the drug’s safety and efficacy before it could be used in humans.

At higher doses, the drug might work even better and could completely prevent weight gain.

It has been previously shown that resveratrol, a compound found in grapes and red wine provides heart benefits, preventing cardiovascular diseases, reducing heart inflammation, enabling stronger bones and preventing eye cataracts. The substance has the effect of an activator for more than 1,000 genes affecting the heart. The function of these genes changes as a person ages but the resveratrol helps the genes work the same way they do in a younger heart.

Tests in mice found that the cholesterol was significantly reduced after 10 months of treatment, the aortas of mice treated with resveratrol functioned significantly better compared to the one of the untreated mice, the compound also moderated inflammation in the heart, resveratrol treatment reduced cataract formation in 30-month-old mice.