ZL has discovered that a human protein, with previously unknown role, has major physiological actions in various animal and human models. In vitro, it enhances survival and proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells, muscle cells, and skin fibroblasts, but not cancer cells, which probably underlines its selective protective actions on healthy tissues. Stimulation of glucose transporter-1 and key signal transduction mechanisms contribute to the protein's effects on cell survival and proliferation. In vivo, it inactivates the bacterial toxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which plays an important role in inflammation and obesity. Combined effects on the glucose transporter-1 and LPS inactivation results in reduced inflammation and obesity as well as normalization of blood glucose level in obese/diabetes models. Protection of healthy tissues helps fighting the tumor's influence resulting in reduced tumor growth and increased efficacy of cancer treatments.
     A significant advantage of ZL's protein drug candidate over most of the other drugs is that it has a long (6-7 days) half-life time that may allow once a week administration. Another advantage is that in human studies, used only as a model protein to study its metabolic stability, it did not cause any detectable side effects or immune reactions.