Quantcast

NYC Gazette

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Tirzepatide shows promise in reducing diabetes risk for obese individuals

Webp 6yuviuxcp3r99luvrsogkvscrel1

Shaun Smith Group Senior Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer | New York Presbyterian Hospital

Shaun Smith Group Senior Vice President, Chief People and Culture Officer | New York Presbyterian Hospital

Tirzepatide, marketed as Zepbound, has demonstrated a significant reduction in diabetes risk among patients with obesity and prediabetes. The drug showed a more than 90% decrease in the likelihood of developing diabetes over three years compared to a placebo. This study was conducted by researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian, Yale School of Medicine, and other institutions.

The findings were published on November 13 in the New England Journal of Medicine. This research extends from the earlier Eli Lilly-sponsored SURMOUNT-1 trial that led to tirzepatide's FDA approval for treating diabetes and later obesity. After 176 weeks of treatment, only 1.3% of patients who were obese and prediabetic progressed to type 2 diabetes when using tirzepatide, compared to 13.3% with a placebo.

“These results show that type 2 diabetes may be prevented, even in people who are on the verge of it, by using a medicine that causes weight loss,” stated Dr. Louis Aronne from Weill Cornell Medicine.

A portion of the study participants received treatment at Weill Cornell Medicine under Dr. Aronne's team, which has long worked on treating obesity as a disease leading to type 2 diabetes.

Tirzepatide is part of a new class of drugs that mimic nutrient-stimulated hormones aiding weight loss and blood sugar control. It activates GLP-1 and GIP receptors throughout the body, resulting in weight loss and reduced side effects compared to older compounds targeting only GLP-1 receptors.

The initial SURMOUNT-1 trial found that patients lost between 15% to 22.5% of their initial weight over 72 weeks depending on dosage while improving A1c levels—a key measure for blood sugar control. The current study focused on 1,032 patients with obesity and prediabetes at its start.

After three years, only ten tirzepatide-treated patients developed diabetes—indicating about a 93% risk reduction compared to those receiving placebo treatment. Over 90% maintained normal A1c levels versus just over half within the placebo group.

No new safety concerns emerged during this extended trial period; common gastrointestinal side effects like nausea diminished over time suggesting tolerability for long-term use was relatively high according to researchers' observations after stopping treatment modest gains occurred back into prediabetes or diabetic ranges underscoring potential chronic usage necessity

Dr Aronne highlighted future possibilities: “Think about impact these types weight-loss drugs can have preventing not only diabetes but also many other common complications such heart disease liver kidney sleep apnea arthritis more.” He envisions obesity treatments becoming primary interventions similar managing hypertension cholesterol today

Weill Cornell Medicine maintains transparency regarding collaborations external entities fostering scientific innovation expert guidance including disclosure roles such paid advisory positions held by Dr Louis J Aronne Eli Lilly Company Further details available through his profile

ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY

!RECEIVE ALERTS

The next time we write about any of these orgs, we’ll email you a link to the story. You may edit your settings or unsubscribe at any time.
Sign-up

DONATE

Help support the Metric Media Foundation's mission to restore community based news.
Donate

MORE NEWS