Lilly's tirzepatide reduces diabetes risk

Eli Lilly's drug tirzepatide, marketed under the names Mounjaro and Zepbound, has shown promising results in reducing the risk of developing diabetes, according to recent clinical trial outcomes. The trial, dubbed SURMOUNT-1, assessed the efficacy of tirzepatide over a three-year period in adults classified as pre-diabetic and who were either obese or overweight. The findings reveal that the drug dramatically lowered the likelihood of progression to Type 2 diabetes by 94% compared to a placebo.

The SURMOUNT-1 trial included adults administered with weekly injections of tirzepatide. Remarkably, participants receiving the highest dosage of 15 milligrams experienced an average body weight reduction of about 23% over the three-year period. This reduction is in stark contrast to the mere 2% weight loss observed in the placebo group.

These latest results build on earlier data from the initial phase of the trial, which had already demonstrated substantial weight loss benefits from tirzepatide over 72 weeks. This earlier success supported the approval of tirzepatide for obesity treatment in late 2022. The second phase of SURMOUNT-1, involving 1,032 participants with pre-diabetes, aimed to evaluate the drug's effectiveness in preventing the onset of Type 2 diabetes.

David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, praised the significant risk reduction shown in the trial but noted that obtaining FDA approval for diabetes prevention could be challenging. Despite this, he anticipates that the new data will likely be included in tirzepatide's labeling, although it may not be formally recognized as a diabetes prevention treatment.

Eli Lilly has announced plans to submit the SURMOUNT-1 findings to a medical journal and present more detailed data at the ObesityWeek conference in November. Following the disclosure of these results, Eli Lilly's stock saw a nearly 5% increase, boosting the company's market value to over $900 billion.

After the main 176-week study phase concluded, participants were observed for an additional 17-week period without treatment. During this time, some participants who had discontinued tirzepatide experienced weight regain, and there was a slight increase in the progression to Type 2 diabetes.

Consistent with previous findings from SURMOUNT-1, the most common side effects reported in the trial were gastrointestinal issues, including diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting. Lower doses of tirzepatide also proved effective in weight loss. Participants on a 5 milligram dose lost an average of 15.4% of their body weight, while those on a 10 milligram dose saw an average reduction of 19.9%.

Currently, tirzepatide is sold under the brand name Mounjaro for treating Type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound for weight loss. The drugs have been in high demand, leading to supply shortages that Eli Lilly has recently managed to resolve in the United States. The company continues to gather evidence on tirzepatide’s broader health benefits, with recent data indicating positive effects on conditions like sleep apnea and heart failure.

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