DTMT Network

United States pharmaceutical major Eli Lilly said that the participants taking its experimental anti-obesity drug,  tirzepatide were able to lose weight significantly during a trial.

In a statement released recently, the pharma giant said that participants taking the drug lost up to 24 kg in the course of the 72-week trial.

The study, the results of which are yet to be published, enrolled 2,539 adult participants with obesity, or overweight with at least one comorbidity, who do not have diabetes and was the first phase 3 trial that evaluated the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide, a once-weekly glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that integrates the actions of both incretins into a single molecule.

The drug met both co-primary endpoints of superior mean per cent change in body weight from baseline and a greater percentage of participants achieving body weight reductions of at least 5% compared to placebo, Lilly informed.

Stating that the study met both the endpoints of the trial, Lilly said that while at 5mg dosage the average weight loss recorded was 16%, those who were taking 10 mg and 15 mg dose lost 21.4% and  22.5% of their weight on an average.

In absolute terms, the mean of 16 kg, 22 kg and 24 kg average weight loss was recorded for 5mg, 10mg and 15mg doses taken.

Additionally, 89% (5 mg) and 96% (10 mg and 15 mg) of people taking tirzepatide achieved at least 5% body weight reductions compared to 28% of those taking placebo, the statement said.

 Additionally, in a key secondary endpoint, 55% (10 mg) and 63% (15 mg) of people taking tirzepatide achieved at least 20% body weight reductions compared to 1.3% of those taking placebo, it added.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that often does not receive the same standard of care as other conditions, despite its impact on physical, psychological and metabolic health, which can include increased risk of hypertension, heart disease, cancer and decreased survival,” Dr Louis J. Aronne,  the director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center and the Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, who was the lead author of the study said.

“Tirzepatide delivered impressive bodyweight reductions in SURMOUNT-1, which could represent an important step forward for helping the patient and physician partnership treat this complex disease,” he added.

Lilly further informed that the participants who had pre-diabetes at study commencement will remain enrolled for the study titled, SURMOUNT-1 for an additional 104 weeks of treatment following the initial 72-week completion date to evaluate the impact on body weight and the potential differences in progression to type 2 diabetes at three years of treatment with tirzepatide compared to placebo.

“Tirzepatide is the first investigational medicine to deliver more than 20% weight loss on average in a phase 3 study, reinforcing our confidence in its potential to help people living with obesity,” Dr Jeff Emmick, the vice president, product development at Lilly said.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that requires effective treatment options, and Lilly is working relentlessly to support people with obesity and modernise how this disease is approached,” he added.