In the midst of the war on obesity, a clear winner has emerged in the battle between two injectables for weight loss. Zepbound (tirzepatide), manufactured by Fortune 500 company Eli Lilly & Co.It outperformed competitor Wegovy (semaglutide), a Global 500 company product Novo Nordiskin the end randomized clinical trial Assisted by Lilly.
After injecting the medication weekly for almost 17 months, the patients took it Zepbound while he lost an average of 20.2% of his body weight (50.3 kilos). Wegs patients lost 13.7% (33.1 pounds), Lilly reported Dec. 4 news release. Additionally, Zepbound had greater relative weight loss than its rival, with 31.6% of Zepbound patients losing at least 25% of their body weight, compared to 16.1% of Wegovy users.
“Seeing that the interest in the area has increased obesity medicationsWe conducted this study to help healthcare providers and patients make informed decisions about treatment choices.” Dr. Leonard GlassSenior Vice President of Global Medical Affairs at Lilly Cardiometabolic Healthhe said in the news release. “Zepbound is a first-of-its-kind FDA-approved dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist obesity medication that is changing the lives of millions of people. manage this chronic disease“.
The trial involved 751 US adults aged 18 and over who were obese or overweight with at least one of the following medical conditions: heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterolor obstructive sleep apnea. They accepted a dose of Zepbound (10 mg or 15 mg) or Wegovy (1.7 mg or 2.4 mg) for 72 weeks. (None of the participants had diabetes; Lilly markets it as tirzepatide Mounjaro For people with type 2 diabetes, Novo Nordisk does the same with semaglutide Ozempic.)
The results have not yet been peer-reviewed, however Lilly said they would be published in a peer-reviewed journal in 2025 and presented at an unspecified medical meeting.
Lilly sponsored the clinical trial, the goal of which, the company said, was to “demonstrate Zepbound in percent change from baseline in body weight compared to Wegovy over 72 weeks.” That shouldn’t necessarily raise eyebrows, he says dr. W. Scott Butschdirector of obesity medicine at Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute.
“We always have to look at the funding source as a potential research bias,” says Butsch luck by e-mail “But this study was well designed, and we should believe the data.”
It’s not unusual for pharmaceutical companies to conduct such research, he says Dr. Nisha PatelMedical director of the Obesity Medicine and Metabolic Health Program within the transplant department California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco
“These trials are usually conducted with the utmost scientific rigor,” says Patel luck by e-mail
What’s more, the results of the trial are similar to a study published earlier this year in the journal—not funded by Lilly. JAMA Internal Medicine, Dr. Holly Loftonthe director NYU Langone Health Weight Management Programhe stated luck. That study showed that 42.3% of people taking tirzepatide, the generic name for Zepbound, lost at least 15% of their body weight within a year, compared with 18.1% of people taking semaglutide, the generic name for Wegovy.
Should I take Zepbound instead of Wegovy?
Both Zepbound and Wegovy are prescription medications, so you should check with your healthcare provider if you are concerned about taking one over the other. Not to mention, Patel says, “it’s still important to understand that we have various therapy options to treat obesity”. Your doctor can help you determine whether it might be right for you, based on what you have in mind weight loss goals and medical history.
And while the results of Lilly’s trial are promising, they shouldn’t be considered when ordering a weight-loss drug, Lofton says.
“Both drugs show significant weight loss of more than 10%, which can improve or improve significantly. weight-related medical conditions“, says Lofton luck by e-mail “Prescribers and patients should always consider the safety, efficacy and accessibility of the drug when deciding which drug is best for the patient.”
Butsch echoes, “From the patient’s perspective, I don’t think these research results will change the public demand for tirzepatide, nor will it change the medication. It reinforces the fact that today there are two drugs that are very effective, but there are so many factors – cost, coverage, etc. – that are obstacles to proper access.”
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