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Tirzepatide Reduces Progression From Prediabetes to T2D
Once-weekly tirzepatide (Zepbound) dramatically reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D) among people with prediabetes and overweight or obesity, Eli Lilly and Co. has announced.
The new topline data come from the company's phase 3 SURMOUNT 1 trial that enrolled a total of 2539 adults with either obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2) or overweight with at least one obesity-related complication but without diabetes at baseline. The 1032 participants who had prediabetes at baseline remained in the study for an additional 104 weeks beyond the trial's original 72 weeks. In that group, progression to T2D was 94% lower among those who received tirzepatide vs placebo (P < .0001).
"Obesity is a chronic disease that puts nearly 900 million adults worldwide at an increased risk of other complications such as type 2 diabetes," said Eli Lilly's senior vice-president of product development, Jeff Emmick, MD, PhD, in a company statement.
Tirzepatide also resulted in sustained weight loss over the 3-year treatment period. Adults taking the 15 mg dose had a 22.9% average weight loss compared with 2.1% with placebo. "These data reinforce the potential clinical benefits of long-term therapy for people living with obesity and prediabetes," Emmick said.
Safety and tolerability over the entire 193-week study (including a 17-week off-drug period) were consistent with those seen in other tirzepatide weight loss trials. The most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal, mostly of mild to moderate intensity.
More detailed results will be presented at ObesityWeek 2024, taking place November 3-6, and will be submitted for publication.
Miriam E. Tucker is a freelance journalist based in the Washington DC area. She is a regular contributor to Medscape Medical News, with other work appearing in the Washington Post, NPR's Shots blog, and Diatribe. She is on X @MiriamETucker.
