What is Tirzepatide?

 

The well-publicised Semaglutide may be about to get some strong competition.

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The highest-dose of the weekly injection, known as tirzepatide (brand name Mounjaro), saw obese adults drop more than a fifth of their bodyweight in little over a year.

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Simlar to semaglutide, Tirzepatide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist, to be injected subcutaneously once-weekly. It helps regulate the hunger hormones in our body to reduce appetitie and help make it easier to shirnk portions, eat healthier foods and get into a healthier routine to lose weight and keep it off for the long run.

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Just like Liraglutide and Semaglutide in their early days, Tirzepatide is currently a diabetic medication. The latest study involved 2,539 adults, although none had diabetes

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Volunteers given the highest dosage of tirzepatide lost 52lbs after 16 months - or 22.5 per cent of their weight - while those given weaker shots dropped between 35 and 49lbs.

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Commenting on the latest study, Professor Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, Director of the Medical Research Council Metabolic Diseases Unit at Cambridge University, said: “The results of this trial are very impressive. Treatment of people with obesity with a weekly injection of tirzepatide produced weight loss similar to that seen with weight loss surgery. Blood tests showed improvements in all the markers of metabolic and cardiovascular health. This study, and recent similar reports of a related agent semaglutide, provide secure evidence that people with obesity can be effectively and safely treated using a medication that is based on the modification of naturally occurring hormones."

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Obesity is a common issue in the UK with 1 in 4 adults in the UK being obese and 1 in 5 children aged 10-11. The most widely used method to check if you're a healthy weight is known as body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is a measure of whether you're a healthy weight for your height.

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For most adults, a BMI of:

• 18.5 to 24.9 means you're a healthy weight

• 25 to 29.9 means you're overweight

• 30 to 39.9 means you're obese

• 40 or above means you're severely obese

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​How does Mounjaro work?

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Much like semaglutide and liraglutide, Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) slows the emptying of the stomach and promotes a feeling of fullness by acting on the brain.

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During clinical trials to evaluate the effectiveness of Tirzepatide when used for treating obesity, participants without diabetes lost on average 52lbs after 16 months - or 22.5 per cent of their weight - compared to those who took the placebo.

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Can I get Mounjaro?

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Mounjaro became licensed for use in September 2023. It is currently licensed for use for Type 2 diabetes (like Ozempic) and has shown promising results for weight loss. No doubt Mounjaro will go the same route as Ozempic and will eventually be applied for a weight loss license.

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What do the results of Mounjaro show?

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Tirzepatide has been mentioned in a lot of media articles in June 2022. You can find a selection of them below:

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Tirzepatide Powers 'Unprecedented' Weight Loss in Obesity Trial (medscape.com)

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Tirzepatide new treatment option for people who are overweight or have obesity: SURMOUNT-1 clinical trial (medicaldialogues.in)

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Focus On - tirzepatide, semaglutide (thepharmaletter.com)

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Diabetes drug leads to notable weight loss in people with obesity – study | Medical research | The Guardian

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Diabetes drug could be a game changer for obesity, new study shows (usatoday.com)

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Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity | NEJM

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Game-changing drug can help Brits shed up to 52lbs, experts say (thesun.co.uk)