Breakthrough Diabetes Drug Doubles Down on Weight Loss

Clear Facts:

• Mounjaro, combined with intensive diet and exercise, aided in losing approximately 60 pounds on average.
• Those on the drug lost nearly 25% of their body weight.
• Side effects were reported but were mostly mild to moderate.

An impressive discovery for those battling obesity: Mounjaro, a diabetes drug, is showing promising results. In conjunction with rigorous diet and exercise, it aided participants in shedding a significant quarter of their body weight – a remarkable 60 pounds on average.

However, it wasn’t just Mounjaro that underwent testing. A group that followed the same diet and exercise regimen but received placebo injections did lose some weight, but eventually regained part of it. These findings were meticulously reported in the esteemed journal, Nature Medicine.

Dr. Thomas Wadden, who steered this study, observed, “This study says that if you lose weight before you start the drug, you can then add a lot more weight loss after.”

This confirms the drug, produced by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly & Co., holds substantial promise in the fight against obesity.

Other experts share this sentiment. Dr. Caroline Apovian, an obesity specialist, commented, “Any way you slice it, it’s a quarter of your total body weight.”

Tirzepatide, the active component in Mounjaro, got the green light for diabetes treatment in the U.S. in May 2022. Despite its primary purpose, it found its way “off-label” to tackle obesity, lining up with other sought-after medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. These drugs, fetching prices upwards of $900 monthly, have become scarce.

Eli Lilly’s wonder drug focuses on two key hormones, which play a pivotal role in appetite regulation post meals. In comparison, the drugs in Ozempic and Wegovy target one.

This groundbreaking study, funded by Eli Lilly, involved approximately 800 participants. Initially weighing an average of 241 pounds, these individuals embarked on a three-month journey of stringent diet and exercise. Roughly 600 remained in the study, receiving either tirzepatide or placebo injections for about 16 months.

The outcome? Both groups initially lost almost 17 pounds during the initial phase. However, those blessed with tirzepatide experienced an additional weight drop of around 44 pounds. In contrast, the placebo group regained around 6 pounds.

Astonishingly, about 88% on tirzepatide lost 5% or more of their weight during the study, compared to a meager 17% on placebo. Dr. Apovian compared these results to those seen with bariatric surgery, stating, “We’re doing a medical gastric bypass.”

Although overwhelmingly positive, it’s crucial to note some participants did experience side effects like nausea and diarrhea, especially when dosage increased. Some had to exit the study due to these effects.

Eli Lilly is currently awaiting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s decision, after a fast-track review, on whether they can market tirzepatide specifically for obesity, potentially under a new brand name.

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