Eli Lilly's Zepbound Demonstrates Superiority in Weight Loss Study

Eli Lilly's recent announcement highlights the superior performance of its weight loss medication, Zepbound (tirzepatide), over Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) in a comprehensive study. This head-to-head comparison, known as the phase 3b SURMOUNT-5 study, evaluated the efficacy of these two medications for weight reduction in adults who are either obese or overweight with at least one weight-related medical condition, excluding diabetes.

The results, presented at the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, revealed that Zepbound led to a significant average weight loss of 20.2% over 72 weeks. This is notably higher than the 13.7% weight reduction achieved by patients taking Wegovy, successfully hitting the primary objective of the trial. Moreover, Zepbound showed a marked advantage across all weight reduction benchmarks. Among the participants using Zepbound, 64.6% managed to shed at least 15% of their body weight, compared to 40.1% of those taking Wegovy. Furthermore, individuals in the Zepbound group experienced a more substantial average reduction in waist circumference, losing 18.4 cm as opposed to the 13 cm reduction seen in the Wegovy cohort.

Louis Aronne, the principal investigator of the study, commented on the significant impact of the latest obesity management advancements. According to Aronne, the findings from the SURMOUNT-5 trial underscore Zepbound's capability in achieving greater weight reduction compared to Wegovy, reinforcing its potential as an effective treatment option for managing obesity.

In terms of regulatory approval, Zepbound is sanctioned for weight management in the United States, while it is marketed as Mounjaro in several other countries, including the UK. Meanwhile, semaglutide (Wegovy) also holds approval for weight management purposes.

On a separate note, Novo Nordisk presented favorable late-stage findings for Wegovy at the ECO conference. These findings highlighted the drug’s ability to provide early cardiovascular protection for adults aged 45 and older who are overweight or obese and have established cardiovascular disease, without a prior diabetes diagnosis. This protection was observed over a five-year span. Data from the phase 3 SELECT study indicated that Wegovy could reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, such as cardiovascular death and non-fatal heart attacks, by 37% compared to a placebo, within the first three months of the study.

These revelations from both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk signify notable progress in the field of obesity treatment, offering new insights and options for individuals struggling with weight-related health issues. The advancements in these medications not only promise significant weight reduction but also present potential health benefits, such as cardiovascular protection, marking a promising step forward in comprehensive obesity care.