In the first direct comparison between Eli Lilly’s obesity drug, Zepbound, and Novo Nordisk’s rival medication, Wegovy, participants in the clinical trial who took Zepbound experienced a nearly 50% greater weight loss. The study published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that individuals on tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, shed an average of 50 pounds over 72 weeks, while those on semaglutide, the component of Wegovy, lost about 33 pounds. Dr. Louis Aronne, leading the study, emphasized that Zepbound’s dual targeting of GLP-1 and GIP hormones contributed to its superior efficacy compared to semaglutide’s focus on GLP-1 alone. Both drugs belong to a novel class of medications that mimic gut and brain hormones to manage appetite and satiety.
Dr. Aronne highlighted the potential for enhanced weight loss when using both drugs together, underscoring their significance in combating obesity, a condition affecting a substantial portion of the American population. The trial involved 751 overweight or obese participants without diabetes from various regions in the U.S. who received weekly injections of Zepbound or Wegovy. At the trial’s conclusion, Zepbound users achieved an average 20% body weight reduction, surpassing the nearly 14% loss among Wegovy users. Notably, Zepbound recipients experienced a greater decrease in waist circumference compared to the semaglutide group.
Despite the promising weight loss results, both drugs were associated with gastrointestinal side effects, leading to discontinuation for a small percentage of participants. The increasing popularity of GLP-1 medications is evident, with a significant number of U.S. adults utilizing them. While Zepbound and Wegovy have generated substantial revenue, access and affordability challenges have restricted broader use. Efforts to address these barriers include cost reduction programs introduced by the manufacturers and strategic formulary decisions by health organizations like CVS Health to enhance patient access to these effective obesity treatments.
Dr. Angela Fitch, the chief medical officer of knownwell, a company specializing in obesity care, emphasized the importance of having a variety of drugs available for treating obesity in the U.S. She highlighted that Wegovy has been shown to reduce the risk of serious heart problems by 20%. Dr. Fitch mentioned that while a medication may be effective for one patient, it may not work for another. Due to the high number of patients requiring treatment, she stressed the necessity of using all available drugs.___This report includes contributions from AP Health Writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis.___Support for the Associated Press Health and Science Department comes from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content.
