Mounjaro is more effective than Ozempic for weight loss in overweight and obese adults, real world study says

Biotech
Monday, November 27th, 2023 3:04 pm EDT

A recent large-scale analysis of real-world data conducted by Truveta Research suggests that the diabetes drug Mounjaro, manufactured by Eli Lilly, is more effective for weight loss than the popular treatment Ozempic by Novo Nordisk in overweight or obese adults. Truveta Research, a firm specializing in compiling and analyzing patient data from healthcare systems, revealed that individuals using Mounjaro were significantly more likely to lose weight and experienced larger reductions in body weight at specific time points compared to those using Ozempic.

Both Mounjaro and Ozempic are originally approved for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. However, an increasing number of people use these weekly injections off-label for weight loss, contributing to their growing demand in the U.S. Both drugs have seen a surge in adoption, boosting the shares of Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

While previous head-to-head studies had hinted at Mounjaro’s superiority over Ozempic in terms of weight loss and blood sugar control for adults with Type 2 diabetes, Truveta Research’s study confirms Mounjaro’s edge in a real-world setting, particularly among overweight or obese adults. Notably, head-to-head clinical trials in this specific population are not yet available.

Truveta Research examined health-care data from around 18,000 adults who were overweight or obese and initiated treatment with Mounjaro or Ozempic between May 2022 and September 2023. Approximately 52% of these patients had Type 2 diabetes. The findings indicated that those taking Mounjaro were three times more likely to lose 15% of their weight compared to Ozempic users. Mounjaro users were also more likely to achieve 10% and 5% weight loss.

Patients on Mounjaro experienced significantly larger reductions in body weight at specific time points, with a 15.2% weight loss at one year compared to Ozempic users’ 7.9%. Interestingly, the study also found that patients without Type 2 diabetes lost more weight than those with the condition, though the differences in effectiveness between Mounjaro and Ozempic were consistent in both populations. Rates of adverse gastrointestinal events were similar between the two groups.

Mounjaro and Ozempic are both weekly injections that alter eating habits and decrease appetite by mimicking certain gut hormones. The distinguishing factor is that Mounjaro and its weight loss counterpart Zepbound mimic both GLP-1 and GIP hormones, while Ozempic and Wegovy (its weight loss counterpart) only mimic GLP-1. This dual approach of Mounjaro and Zepbound is believed to enhance their effect on regulating appetite and blood sugar levels, potentially leading to more significant weight loss compared to medications solely targeting GLP-1.

The study’s findings are particularly relevant as they provide real-world evidence supporting Mounjaro’s effectiveness over Ozempic in weight loss among overweight or obese adults, despite the drugs being originally approved for diabetes treatment. Eli Lilly is further investigating Mounjaro’s efficacy in comparison to Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic approved for weight loss, with results expected next year. The study aims to inform current patient care and outcomes, offering insights into the comparative effectiveness of these medications for weight loss.

For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/27/mounjaro-superior-to-ozempic-for-weight-loss-study-says.html