French scientists claim to have discovered a drug that could burn body fat though the person is on high - fat diet. A team from The University of Louis Pasteur has tested the drug on mice. They found that it protected mice against weight gain and insulin resistance.

The drug is still in the experimental stage and thus doesn't have a brand name. It's called SRT1720 as it targets the SIRT1 gene. It boosts the fat metabolism in mice in a similar fashion as in case of scarce calorie diet. 

The researchers found that at higher doses, the drug completely prevented weight gain. It also boosted the blood sugar tolerance and insulin sensitivity in mice. Both these are pertinent in warding off diabetes.

It was also discovered that mice did not suffer any side effects due to the drug. But the scientists say further studies are needed to test the drug's safety and efficacy before it could be used on humans.

Professor Stephen Bloom of Imperial College London, said: "This sounds interesting but is terribly early. We do need new treatments for obesity, particularly as there are 1,000 deaths a week in the UK from obesity."

Prof Ian Broom, of the Centre for Obesity Research and Epidemiology at The Robert Gordon University remarked, "Research in this area is to be welcomed as an additional route of combating the obesity epidemic and associated comorbid disease."