Study: Diabetes Drug Leads to Significant Weight Loss

Facts

• On Thursday, Eli Lilly, makers of Tirzepatide — approved to treat Type 2 diabetes under the brand name "Mounjaro" — announced the results of their study, claiming the injectable drug helped obese people with diabetes lose weight and reduce their blood sugar.¹
• The trial evaluated more than 900 adults with obesity and Type 2 diabetes over a 72-week period. Patients on a 15mg dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 15.7% of their body weight, while those on a 10mg dose achieved an average weight reduction of 13.4%.²
• About 86% of patients in the trial who took a 15mg dose lost at least 5% of their body weight, compared with 30.5% of placebo patients. Nearly 82% of people taking the 10mg dose achieved at least 5% weight loss.³
• Though it has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, Lilly expects the drug to get fast-track approval from the US Food and Drug Administration to sell Mounjaro for chronic weight management.⁴
• Lilly has registered a new phase 3b trial that will pit Mounjaro against Novo Nordisk's weight loss drug Wegovy in 700 patients who have obesity or are overweight with weight-related health conditions. The company expects to complete the study in Feb. 2025.⁵
• Last year, industry analysts predicted that the global obesity drug market could reach $30B by 2030.⁶

Sources: ¹Wall Street Journal, ²Eli Lilly and Company, ³Reuters, ⁴CNN, ⁵Fierce Pharma, and ⁶TD Cowen.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Associated Press. Like high blood pressure, obesity should be viewed as a chronic disease that can be managed with medication. Research has shown that merely relying on diet, exercise, and willpower does not reduce body weight substantially. Since it targets the digestive and chemical pathways that underlie obesity, Mounjaro could set a new bar for weight loss and help nearly 42% of all adults who qualify as obese in the US.
• Narrative B, as provided by Washington Post. Drugmakers are trying to capitalize on increased consumer demand for weight loss miracles. As it is designed to activate hormones that regulate blood sugar, delay digestion, and suppress appetite, Mounjaro may further perpetuate a dangerous diet culture that idealizes weight loss and slim bodies if the FDA approves it for weight management. People should stay clear of drugs that override human metabolism.
• Narrative C, as provided by National Review. Obesity isn't just a cosmetic concern; it is a complicated issue that needs more than medications. To reverse the obesity epidemic, the federal government must be willing to take concrete action because the alternative is to normalize it as an irreparable health issue, allowing Big Pharma to reap billions off the obesity gold rush.

Predictions