USA — Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug, Mounjaro, has been making waves in the medical world with its remarkable potential to help overweight and obese individuals shed those stubborn pounds.
Recently unveiled study results not only reinforce Mounjaro’s efficacy but also shed light on its long-term benefits as a weight-loss treatment.
As Lilly gears up for a potential U.S. approval later this year, the findings from these groundbreaking trials may revolutionize obesity treatment and pave the way for a new era in managing chronic conditions.
In its initial Phase 3 trial, SURMOUNT-1, Mounjaro demonstrated impressive results, helping obese individuals with underlying medical conditions lose up to 21% of their body weight after 72 weeks of treatment.
Meanwhile, in SURMOUNT-2, obese Type 2 diabetics treated with Mounjaro experienced a significant weight loss of up to 15% after the same duration.
However, the two latest trials, SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4 delved into uncharted territory. They aimed to address crucial questions regarding the drug’s effectiveness for those who had already achieved weight loss through diet and exercise and explored what happens when patients discontinue Mounjaro.
SURMOUNT-3 involved 579 individuals who had successfully lost 5% of their body weight through a combination of a low-calorie diet, exercise, and counseling sessions.
The study randomized them to either continue taking Mounjaro or receive a placebo. The results were astounding, with those on Mounjaro losing an average of 21% of their body weight after 72 weeks, while the placebo group gained 3%.
SURMOUNT-4 enrolled 783 participants, all of whom received Mounjaro for 36 weeks. Subsequently, 670 of them were randomly assigned to either continue taking the drug or switch to a placebo for an additional year.
At the end of the initial phase, patients showed an average weight loss of 21%. Those who discontinued Mounjaro during the second phase regained 15% of their weight, whereas the group that stayed on the drug continued to lose approximately 7% more.
Jeff Emmick, Lilly’s senior vice president of product development, emphasized the significance of the findings, challenging the notion that diet and exercise alone could achieve weight loss goals for individuals with obesity or overweight.
He stated that these results highlighted the importance of considering obesity as a chronic disease that might require chronic therapy to maintain treatment benefits.
As the data on Mounjaro’s weight-loss potential continues to mount, analysts recognize its value and predict fierce competition in the market.
If approved for obesity, Mounjaro will go head-to-head with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, both of which stimulate the hormone Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), assisting in insulin production.
Mounjaro, in addition to targeting GLP-1, also acts on Gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), amplifying its weight-loss effects.
With Novo’s combined GLP-1 sales reaching a staggering US$14.2 billion in 2022 and projections of the drug class reaching up to US$90 billion, the potential for Mounjaro’s impact cannot be understated.
Lilly’s commitment to tackling obesity does not end with Mounjaro. The company has another promising obesity project in its pipeline, displaying potential comparable to that of its star drug.
Additionally, Lilly is advancing an oral treatment in late-stage development, promising more breakthroughs in the fight against obesity.
As Mounjaro’s journey unfolds, the anticipation and excitement in the medical community continue to grow, as the potential implications reach far beyond diabetes management and pave the way for a new era in weight-loss therapies.
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