Evidence is mounting that tirzepatide, a drug originally designed to treat diabetes, could help people lose weight in weighteven more than other popular drugs like Ozempic.
The patients who received a weekly injection of tirzepatide, currently available under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes patients, lost an average of more than 24% of their body weight by the end of the 84-week study, according to new research . These findings, presented recently at ObesityWeek® 2023, an annual Obesity Society conference, represent the full results of a study that funder Eli Lilly presented in July.
In comparison, patients who used Ozempic and Wegovy, which contain semaglutide, lost an average of about 15 percent over a similar time frame, according to another study.
“These findings are extraordinary,” lead author Thomas Wadden, past president of the Obesity Society and professor of psychology in psychiatry at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, said in a news release.
Patients who took tirzepatide also saw significant improvements in other health indicators, such as blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure, he said.
These findings add to a growing body of research suggesting that tirzepatide may be a treatment very effective for managing weight and related health complications. It’s also promising news for drugmaker Eli Lilly, which is developing a new brand-name version of tirzepatide for weight loss. weightwhich is awaiting FDA approval.
How does tirzepatide work for weight loss
Tirzepatid is a type of medicament known as a GLP-1 agonist, which means it mimics a naturally occurring hormone in the body called peptides to influence specific GLP-1 receptors HORMONE related to the sensation of hunger and satiety. It also helps regulate insulin by mimicking a hormone called GIP.
In the latest study, researchers from several universities, including Johns Hopkins, as well as the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly (which funded the study), looked at nearly 600 patients overweight or obese.
Participants initially went through a 12-week weight loss phase without taking any medication, following a strict routine of lifestyle strategies such as diet and exercise. Patients lost an average of about 7 percent of their body weight during this period, he writes insider.com.
They were then randomly assigned to receive either the maximum dose of tirzepatide or a placebo for 72 weeks.
At the end of the period of study, those taking tirzepatide lost an additional 18.4% of their body weight on average. In contrast, the placebo group gained weight, about 2.5% of their body weight on average.
Tirzepatide may prove more effective for weight loss than Ozempic or Wegovy.
“Tirzepatide could provide a safe and highly effective alternative to surgery for some people with obesity severe,” the press release states.
Previous evidence also suggests that tirzepatide may be more effective than other weight loss medications. Semaglutide, which is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy, was called a “game changer” when it was approved for weight loss in 2021. It also acts on GLP-1 receptors to help patients to lose in weight.
A 2021 study of the effects of tirzepatide compared to semaglutide in patients with type 2 diabetes found that tirzepatide led to greater weight loss. More studies directly comparing the two drugs are underway.
Side effects of tirzepatide compared to semaglutide
Although tirzepatide is generally considered safe, it can cause gastrointestinal problems.
In the most recent study, 80% of patients treated with tirzepatide reported at least one side effect – the most common being nausea, diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting. These are also common side effects of weight loss medications such as semaglutide.
However, the dual action of tirzepatide may cause a smaller, less frequent and less intense number of symptoms compared to semaglutide, according to Dr. Christopher McGowan, MD, a specialist in internal medicine, gastroenterology and obesity medicine.
“The overall incidence of side effects seems to be lower, and although it’s purely anecdotal, my patients who have switched from semaglutide to tirzepatide say it’s much better tolerated,” he said.
The drug is currently considered safe for long-term use, but more data is needed on possible long-term side effects.
Tirzepatide is sold under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes, for which it was approved by the FDA in 2022. Eli Lilly is awaiting FDA approval to develop it into a separate weight loss drug.
Patients who want tirzepatide for weight loss may still be able to get it because doctors they can prescribe it off-label if they think it will help. Manufacturer Eli Lilly’s latest announcement anticipates an update to the FDA approval process for tirzepatide as a weight loss treatment in late 2023.
Semaglutide went through a similar process, with Ozempic being approved for diabetes treatment in 2017 and Wegovy for weight loss in 2021.
2023-10-17 11:44:21
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