Lilly’s Mounjaro Matches Cardiovascular Benefit of Trulicity in Landmark Trial, Paving Way for Expanded Approval

Mounjaro (tirzepatide), Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug, matched the cardioprotective benefit of Trulicity (dulaglutide) in a large head-to-head clinical trial (SURPASS-CVOT) involving over 13,000 adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease1234.

Patients on Mounjaro experienced an 8% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE-3:
cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke) compared to those on Trulicity; the result was statistically non-inferior but not superior1234.

Mounjaro delivered greater reductions in A1C (blood sugar control) and body weight relative to Trulicity2.

Participants receiving Mounjaro saw a 16% lower rate of all-cause mortality than those on Trulicity, though this result was not controlled for statistical significance12.

This is the largest and longest trial of tirzepatide to date, spanning more than four and a half years and 30 countries2.

Results reinforce Mounjaro’s established safety profile and pave the way for expanded regulatory approval for cardiovascular indications245.

Sources:

1. https://www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/eli-lilly-mounjaro-diabetes-treatment-cardiovascular-complications/

2. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lillys-mounjaro-tirzepatide-a-gipglp-1-dual-agonist-demonstrated-cardiovascular-protection-in-landmark-head-to-head-trial-reinforcing-its-benefit-in-patients-with-type-2-diabetes-and-heart-disease-302517872.html

3. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lillys-mounjaro-tirzepatide-gipglp-1-dual-agonist-demonstrated

4. https://www.pharmalive.com/lillys-mounjaro-shows-cardiovascular-protection-in-patients-with-type-2-diabetes-and-heart-disease/

5. https://cardiovascularbusiness.com/topics/clinical/pharmaceutics/tirzepatide-demonstrates-cardiovascular-protection-head-head-trial-dulaglutide