New Podcast, Sweet Structures & $2.2B GPCR Moves

GPCR News
May 15
2 min read

Updated: May 22

Hello Sweet GPCR Enthusiasts,

This week at Dr. GPCR: a new podcast episode with Dr. Ben Clements, a tour of our official Dr. GPCR Store, and a spotlight on the cryo-EM structure of the sweet taste receptor.

We’re also tracking biased signaling in Class B GPCRs, the membrane-driven modulation of mGluR2, and a big headline, Novo Nordisk’s $2.2B deal with Septerna to develop GPCR-targeted obesity therapeutics.

Scroll down for the science, the strategy, and the sweet stuff 🍬

Dr. GPCR Updates

New Podcast Episode - When to Walk, When to Run with Dr. Ben Clements

In Episode 166, Ben Clements dives into opioid pharmacology, GPCR-targeted PAMs, and how old-school assays power breakthroughs. Tune in for sharp insights, tenfold gains in efficacy, and the wisdom of knowing when to walk and when to run.

Wear Your Science – Dr. GPCR merch is here!

Show off your receptor pride and support the mission. The official Dr. GPCR Store is live! Rock your favorite design, spark conversations in the lab, and help power everything we build—one mug or hoodie at a time.

Visit the Store

GPCR Publication Highlights

— The structure of human sweetness. A stunning cryo-EM structure of the sweet taste receptor (TAS1R2–TAS1R3) shows how aspartame and sucralose fit into a single, flexible binding pocket.

— Where are we now? Biased signalling of Class B G protein-coupled receptor-targeted therapeutics. A comprehensive review walks us through the evolving clinical landscape of class B GPCRs—reminding us that precision pharmacology is here to stay.

— A tale of detergent tails: GPCR activation beyond ligands. A new commentary highlights how detergents and cholesterol shape mGluR2 activation—no ligand required. A structural cautionary tale for all of us.