Experimental fat-burner TOFA triggers fat loss by boosting energy use in obese mice

UC Berkeley researchers report that the experimental compound TOFA (5-tetradecyloxy-2-furoic acid) increased whole-body energy expenditure by up to 18% and produced about 18% weight loss in obese male mice on a high-fat diet over four weeks, mainly from fat while preserving lean mass; food intake and activity were unchanged. TOFA appears to slow fat creation and boost fat burning, though exact cellular mechanisms are unclear. Lower-dose TOFA combined with GLP-1 drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide yielded greater weight loss than either alone, suggesting potential synergy. The work is in mice, TOFA has not been tested in humans, and safety/dosing are unknown; further toxicology and animal studies precede any human trials. Authors are co-founders of ReRx Therapeutics.