Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug slashes the risk of developing diabetes in long-term trial

Biotech
Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 4:27 pm EDT

Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug, tirzepatide, has demonstrated significant potential in reducing the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes in obese or overweight adults with prediabetes. In a long-term, late-stage trial, participants who received tirzepatide, the active ingredient in both the weight loss drug Zepbound and the diabetes medication Mounjaro, exhibited a 94% lower risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes compared to those who received a placebo. The trial, which spanned approximately three years, also revealed that patients on the highest weekly dose of tirzepatide experienced a substantial average weight loss of 22.9%, while those on the placebo saw only a 2.1% decrease in body weight.

These findings highlight the potential of tirzepatide to delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes, a condition affecting more than one-third of Americans. Prediabetes is marked by elevated blood sugar levels that have not yet reached the threshold for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis. It is often linked to overweight or obesity, which increases the risk of progression to diabetes. Health experts suggest that lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise, can reverse prediabetes, but the results from this study indicate that tirzepatide could be a powerful therapeutic option for those at high risk.

The study also underscores the broader health benefits of GLP-1 medications, a class of drugs that includes tirzepatide and has gained significant popularity for their ability to regulate blood sugar and curb appetite by mimicking gut hormones. Over the past two years, medications like Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Mounjaro, as well as similar drugs from Novo Nordisk, have surged in use. The promising results from the tirzepatide trial further encourage the exploration of these drugs for additional clinical applications.

Dr. Jeff Emmick, Eli Lilly’s senior vice president of product development, emphasized the importance of these findings, particularly in addressing obesity, a chronic disease affecting nearly 900 million adults worldwide and significantly increasing the risk of Type 2 diabetes. The trial included more than 1,000 adults and was the longest study conducted on tirzepatide to date, featuring a 176-week treatment period followed by a 17-week cessation phase. During this cessation phase, patients began to regain weight and showed an increase in diabetes progression, yet still had an 88% lower risk of developing diabetes compared to those on the placebo.

Safety data from the trial indicated that tirzepatide’s side effects were consistent with previous studies, primarily involving mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting. These findings support the continued use of tirzepatide as a long-term treatment for obesity and prediabetes, with Eli Lilly planning to submit the latest results for peer review and present them at an upcoming medical conference in November.

Tirzepatide’s dual-action mechanism involves mimicking two gut hormones, GLP-1 and GIP. GLP-1 reduces food intake and appetite, while GIP also suppresses appetite and may enhance the body’s ability to break down sugar and fat. This combination contributes to the drug’s effectiveness in weight loss and diabetes prevention, making it a promising tool in the fight against obesity and related metabolic conditions.

For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/20/eli-lilly-weight-loss-drug-cuts-risk-of-developing-diabetes-in-trial.html