Lilly’s Tirzepatide Demonstrates Significant Reduction in Diabetes Risk and Sustained Weight Loss in Overweight Adults

Diabetes Risk Reduction:
Tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro and Zepbound, reduced the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by 94% in adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight compared to a placebo.

Sustained Weight Loss:
Adults receiving the highest dose of tirzepatide (15 mg) experienced an average weight loss of 22.9% over three years, significantly more than the 2.1% weight loss observed in the placebo group.

Clinical Trial Details:
The SURMOUNT-1 Phase 3 study involved 1,032 adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or overweight, treated with weekly injections of tirzepatide (5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg) over 176 weeks, followed by a 17-week off-treatment period.

Safety Profile:
The most common side effects were gastrointestinal-related, including diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting, consistent with previously published results.

Regulatory and Market Impact:
Eli Lilly plans to discuss the data with regulators, which may lead to updated labeling but not a formal prevention indication. The company's shares rose nearly 5% on the news, pushing its market value above $900 billion.