Tirzepatide demonstrates superior weight loss compared to semaglutide in SURMOUNT-5 trial

UAE— Tyrzepatide, a drug intended to assist persons with obesity or overweight problems in achieving substantial weight loss, has shown encouraging results in a recent clinical research called SURMOUNT-5.

This phase 3b open-label trial compared tirzepatide, which targets two hormones (GIP and GLP-1), with semaglutide, a drug that targets only GLP-1, in adults without diabetes but with at least one weight-related health issue.

Over 72 weeks, participants treated with tirzepatide lost an average of 20.2% of their body weight, which is about 50.3 pounds (22.8 kg).

 In contrast, those taking semaglutide lost 13.7%, or roughly 33.1 pounds (15.0 kg), representing a 47% greater relative weight loss for tirzepatide users, marking a significant improvement in obesity treatment outcomes

The trial also showed that tirzepatide was more effective in helping participants reach various weight loss milestones.

For example, 64.6% of those on tirzepatide lost at least 15% of their body weight, compared to 40.1% of those on semaglutide.

Additionally, tirzepatide users experienced a greater reduction in waist circumference, averaging 7.2 inches (18.4 cm), versus 5.1 inches (13.0 cm) for semaglutide users.

Experts involved in the study highlighted the significance of these findings.

Dr. Louis J. Aronne, a leading obesity specialist, emphasized that combining different hormonal mechanisms, as tirzepatide does, can overcome weight loss plateaus and offer enhanced results.

Similarly, Dr. Leonard Glass from Eli Lilly, the maker of tirzepatide, noted that these results position tirzepatide as a leading treatment option for obesity, providing healthcare providers with valuable insights for patient care.

Regarding safety, tirzepatide’s profile was consistent with earlier trials. Most side effects were mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues.

Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events was slightly lower with tirzepatide (6.1%) compared to semaglutide (8.0%).

However, the study was not designed to definitively compare safety between the two drugs.

The detailed results of SURMOUNT-5 were presented at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity and published simultaneously in The New England Journal of Medicine, underscoring the importance of this advancement in obesity management.

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