Tirzepatide
Contents
In short
- Tirzepatide is an approved medicine that acts on two gut hormones, GIP and GLP-1. It is available on prescription.
- In the large SURMOUNT-1 study, participants lost 15 to 21 per cent of their body weight in 72 weeks, compared with 3 per cent on placebo.
- In a head-to-head comparison, tirzepatide gave more weight loss than semaglutide.
- People who carried on with tirzepatide kept their weight down over the next year.
Fact box
- Type
- Approved medicine
- Developed by
- Eli Lilly
- Research
- Large human trials
- Other names
- tirzepatid, Mounjaro
What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a peptide medicine that acts on the receptors for two gut hormones, GIP and GLP-1. It is approved for type 2 diabetes and overweight, and is taken as a once-weekly injection.
GIP and GLP-1 are hormones the gut makes when we eat. They help the body control blood sugar and help us feel full. Tirzepatide acts on the receptors for both, while semaglutide acts on GLP-1 only.[1]
Tirzepatide is approved in the EU under the name Mounjaro and is available on prescription.[2] The medicine was developed by Eli Lilly, which also funded the large studies.
What does the research say about Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide has been tested in several large, controlled studies. They show substantial weight loss and better blood sugar, also when compared directly with semaglutide.
| Use | Studies | Research |
|---|---|---|
| Overweight and obesity | 2 studies · RCT · n = 3,290 | Large human trials |
| Type 2 diabetes | 1 study · RCT · n = 1,879 | Large human trials |
| Keeping the weight off | 1 study · RCT · n = 670 | Large human trials |
RCT means randomised controlled trial. How to read a study
Overweight and obesity
In SURMOUNT-1, 2,539 adults with obesity or overweight and without diabetes received tirzepatide in one of three dose groups, or placebo, for 72 weeks. Weight fell by 15.0, 19.5 and 20.9 per cent in the three groups, compared with 3.1 per cent on placebo.[1]
In a head-to-head comparison with 751 people with obesity, those on tirzepatide lost 20.2 per cent in 72 weeks, compared with 13.7 per cent on semaglutide.[3]
Type 2 diabetes
In SURPASS-2, with 1,879 people with type 2 diabetes, long-term blood sugar (HbA1c) fell by 2.0 to 2.3 percentage points with tirzepatide, compared with 1.9 with semaglutide. Weight loss was also greater with tirzepatide.[4]
Keeping the weight off
In SURMOUNT-4, some people carried on with tirzepatide while others switched to placebo after 36 weeks. Those who carried on kept their weight down, while those who switched regained 14 per cent on average over the next year.[5]
Questions and answers about Tirzepatide
Is tirzepatide the same as Mounjaro?
Yes. Mounjaro is the name tirzepatide is sold under in Norway.
Is tirzepatide better than semaglutide?
In a head-to-head comparison, tirzepatide gave more weight loss and better blood sugar than semaglutide. Semaglutide has also been shown to reduce heart and blood vessel events in large studies.
Does the weight come back when you stop?
For many people, yes. Those who switched from tirzepatide to placebo regained 14 per cent of their body weight on average over the next year.
How do I get tirzepatide in Norway?
Talk to your doctor. With a prescription, you can collect it at a pharmacy or order it from an approved Norwegian online pharmacy.