Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 tirzepatide has triumphed yet again, as the full SURMOUNT-1 trial showed that the drug kept nearly 99% of prediabetic patients diabetes-free over 3 years, while improving cardiometabolic metrics.
- Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) is used to promote weight loss and treat Type 2 diabetes through the GIP and GLP-1 receptor pathways.
- Like Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide, evidence of tirzepatide’s cardiometabolic and cardiovascular benefits continue to mount.
In the final results from the three-year SURMOUNT-1 trial, tirzepatide lowered the risk of progression to Type 2 diabetes by 94% versus placebo in adult prediabetic patients who were obese or overweight.
- At the treatment endpoint of 176 weeks, 99% of prediabetic patients were still diabetes-free.
- 17 weeks after treatment ended, only 2.4% of patients who took tirzepatide were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes versus 13.7% in the study’s placebo group.
Unsurprisingly, dosage impacted patients’ weight loss, with higher doses leading to greater losses.
- The 5 mg group saw 15.4% average body weight reduction, while 10 mg resulted in 19.9% reduction, and 15 mg caused a substantial 22.9% body weight loss.
- That’s far greater than the control group, which only saw a 2.1% reduction.
- These weight loss levels are also greater than we’ve seen in semaglutide studies.
Tirzepatide also improved glycemic control and cardiometabolic risk factors like fasting insulin and blood pressure, adding to its resume across a range of diseases.
- In tirzepatide’s late-stage SUMMIT trial, the drug cut the risk of adverse HF outcomes by 38% compared to placebo, while improving symptoms.
- Lilly’s SYNERGY-NASH trial showed that >50% of patients on tirzepatide experienced fibrosis improvement without their MASH worsening compared to 29.7% in the placebo group.
The Takeaway
SURMOUNT-1 represents another huge advancement for Eli Lilly in the GLP-1 race and could expand tirzepatide to millions of prediabetic patients, allowing them to avoid diabetes and the cardiovascular risks that come with it.
