This article discusses the potential benefits of tirzepatide, a peptide analog of the human GIP hormone, for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. Tirzepatide is expected to be approved by The FDA this year as an addition to diet and exercise for weight loss.
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It is a promising new therapeutic agent for people with type 2 diabetes. Tirzepatide is a once-weekly subcutaneous injection of either 5 mg or 15 mg that is both a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist and a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonist. It is designed to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity and improve clinical outcomes, such as reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. The results from phase 3 trials have demonstrated the potential clinical benefit of tirzepatide compared to placebo in weight loss and improving glycemic control in adults with either diabetes or obesity. The 15 mg dose was more effective than the 5 mg dose at reducing blood sugar levels, whereas the 5 mg dose showed superior weight loss results compared to the 15 mg dose. In addition, both doses were found to be safe and well tolerated by patients throughout the study. Tirzepatide has shown promising results for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, providing improved blood sugar control compared to placebo and greater weight loss when used alongside diet and exercise. [Sources: 1, 3, 5]
Eli Lilly, the drug’s maker, recently received FDA approval for the new drug, which is now available to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Officials from Eli Lilly said that use data from one clinical trial would be used to gauge the effectiveness of Tirzepatide. This trial showed that patients taking Tirzepatide saw better blood sugar control and greater weight loss than those taking placebo. An ongoing clinical trial will also assess whether or not Tirzepatide can lead to sustained loss of excess weight. The FDA has approved Tirzepatide for both type-2 diabetes and obesity indications after reviewing results from clinical trials conducted by Eli Lilly. [Sources: 2, 7, 8]
Tirzepatide is a once-daily, injected GLP-1 receptor agonist that helps control blood sugar and spur weight loss in type 2 diabetes patients. The drug helped patients with high doses of insulin glargine or insulin degludec, and the average weight loss was 8.7 pounds over the 16-week clinical trial compared to the placebo. The 3 clinical trials for tirzepatide showed that it helped reduce body weight and improve blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. The drug has also reduced the need for insulin glargine and insulin degludec in some patients. In addition, it has been found to help control glucose levels better than other diabetes medications, such as basal insulin or metformin. Tirzepatide works by stimulating two receptors in the body – GLP-1 and glucagon receptors – which help regulate glucose levels and body weight. [Sources: 0, 4, 6]
It was first found in 2021 with the MOUNJARO-surpass-4 study and is a new diabetes drug that has shown promise in reducing average weight loss for participants without type 2 diabetes. Nearly 21 percent of the participants taking the highest dose of 15 mg saw an average weight loss of 25.8 pounds, and obese participants taking this same dose saw a 2.58 percent reduction in body weight. For overweight patients, this diabetes drug can effectively reduce body weight and hemoglobin A1C levels. [Sources: 6, 8]
Sources:
[0]: https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/fda-approves-tirzepatide-injection-for-adults-with-type-2-diabetes
[1]: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-novel-dual-targeted-treatment-type-2-diabetes
[2]: https://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/a42387284/tirzepatide-weight-loss-drug/
[3]: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2788799
[4]: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/weight-loss-drug-affordability-rcna60422
[5]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9268041/
[6]: https://www.everydayhealth.com/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-drug-tirzepatide-mounjaro-aids-weight-loss-in-people-with-obesity/
[7]: https://www.healthline.com/health-news/type-2-diabetes-drug-tirzepatide-gets-authorization-for-weight-loss-what-to-know
[8]: https://www.joincalibrate.com/resources/what-is-tirzepatide
