Zepbound causes more weight loss than Wegovy, says drugmaker Eli Lilly

CNN
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According to clinical trial data from drug maker Eli Lilly, adults who took Zepbound lost an average of 47% more weight than those who took Wegovy.

In a direct comparison of the two GLP-1 drugs, adults with obesity or overweight who took Zepbound, the brand name for tirzepatide, lost an average of more than 20% of their weight after about a year and a half. compared with an average weight loss of about 14% for those who took Wegovy, the brand name for semaglutide.

That equates to an average weight loss of about 50 pounds for those taking Zepbound, compared to an average weight loss of 33 pounds for those taking Wegovy.

People who took Zepbound were also more likely to reach certain weight loss goals than those who took Wegovy: About 32% of those who took Zepbound lost at least 25% of their body weight, compared with 16% of those who took Wegovy, Lilly said in a statement Press release. The data has not yet been published in a scientific journal.

Tirzepatide and semaglutide both mimic the effects of the gut hormone GLP-1, which stimulates the body’s production of insulin and slows the passage of food through the stomach. GLP-1 also signals the brain to help control appetite. Tirzepatide also stimulates a second gut hormone called GIP, which may help increase its effects.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Eli Lilly makes tirzepatide under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight control, while Novo Nordisk makes semaglutide like Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight control.

“Given the increased interest in anti-obesity medications, we conducted this study to help healthcare providers and patients make informed decisions about treatment choices,” said Dr. Leonard C. Glass, senior vice president of global medical affairs at Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, in a statement on Wednesday. “Zepbound is in a class of its own as the only FDA-approved dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist anti-obesity drug, and it is changing the way millions of people manage this chronic disease .”

Lilly’s new clinical trial data mirrors results of previous research based on electronic health records comparing outcomes for those taking tirzepatide and semaglutide. However, previous research has included some data from people suffering from both obesity and diabetes. The 751 participants in the Lilly study did not have diabetes; Instead, the study focused on adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one other comorbidity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), or cardiovascular disease.

The most commonly reported side effects among those taking both Zepbound and Wegovy were mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, Lilly said.

The drugmaker plans to publish the results of this clinical trial in a scientific journal and present them at a medical meeting next year.