Next-generation drug from Eli Lilly boosts weight loss to 24%, highest yet seen in trials | CNN (2024)

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An experimental drug from Eli Lilly helped patients with obesity lose an average of 24% of their body weight over 48 weeks on the highest dose in a mid-stage study, the most weight loss seen yet in a new class of drugs that’s revolutionizing the field.

The medicine, called retatrutide, had similar side effects – mainly gastrointestinal in nature – as approved drugs in the class, including Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro, researchers reported in astudy, funded by Lilly, published Monday in the New England Journal of Medicine. The results were also presented at the American Diabetes Association conference in San Diego.

Daily pill from Eli Lilly leads to 15% weight loss in midstage study, rivaling Wegovy results without the shot

These drugs mimic gut hormones to curb appetite and slow stomach emptying, and are administered as once-weekly injections, althoughpill versionsare in development as well. Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, approved for type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy, cleared for weight loss, mimic just one hormone, called GLP-1, and have shown up to 15% weight loss intrials. Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, cleared for type 2 diabetes and awaiting FDA approval for weight loss, targets both GLP-1 and a hormone called GIP, and has produced weight loss of21 to 23%.

Retatrutide adds yet a third target, glucagon, giving it the moniker “triple G.” In this mid-stage trial, Lilly enrolled about 340 adults with obesity, who had a body mass index of at least 30. The trial also included about 4% of patients with a BMI of between 27 and 30, in the overweight category, with at least one weight-related health condition.

In addition to the 24% average weight loss on the highest dose in the trial – about 58 pounds over 11 months – a quarter of patients on that dose experienced weight loss of at least 30%.

“This is an unusually high magnitude of efficacy” compared with other weight-loss medicines, researchers led by Dr. Ania Jastreboff at the Yale School of Medicine wrote in the NEJM paper. They noted it’s a degree of weight loss that’s been observed with bariatric-metabolic surgery.

Patients on the medicine had side effects like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation, which got worse at higher doses, the study showed. The researchers described them as generally “mild to moderate” in severity, and said they could be improved if patients started on lower doses before moving to higher ones.

About 7% of patients on the drug experienced skin tingling, the researchers reported, compared with 1% on placebo. One patient had elevated liver enzymes, and one had a case of acute pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Increases in heart rate were seen up until 24 weeks in patients on the medicine, and then decreased, the study showed, although one patient had a severe adverse heart event known as prolonged QT syndrome.

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    Patients taking the medicine experienced benefits beyond weight loss, the researchers reported, including lowered blood pressure – some patients were able to stop taking a blood pressure medication. Almost three quarters of patients who started the trial with prediabetes had reached normal blood sugar levels by 48 weeks.

    The average weight loss appeared not to be slowing down by the 48-week mark, the researchers said, suggesting a longer study could show even more. Lilly is currently recruiting patients for aPhase 3 trial.

    The medicine was just one of many with updates at the diabetes conference that started Friday. Other results showed that pill forms of drugs targeting GLP-1 produce similar weight loss – about 15% – as Wegovy. Novo Nordisk presentedresultsfrom a Phase 3 study, while Lilly shared Phase 2data. Pfizer alsosaidMonday morning it had selected a GLP-1 pill to take forward in trials, though it’s currently a twice-daily pill, compared with once-daily for Lilly’s and Novo Nordisk’s.

    Many of these drugs are also being tested for diabetes and other conditions. Retatrutide showed in additional results presented at the diabetes conference that it helped lower blood sugar as well as or better than an approved treatment, and led to more weight loss in these patients. An additional set of results suggest the drug may have promise for treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition in which excess fat builds up in the liver and can lead to liver complications. Anestimated24% of American adults have the condition.

    “This study raises the possibility that in the early stages of liver disease, it is possible to ‘de-fat’ the liver, which could in turn help to reduce the long-term cardiac, metabolic, renal, and liver-related harm from obesity,” Dr. Arun Sanyal, a professor of Medicine, Physiology and Molecular Pathology at Virginia Commonwealth University, said in a news release from the American Diabetes Association. “We are encouraged by these results and how they can potentially help tackle a disease that is currently without any approved therapies.”

    Next-generation drug from Eli Lilly boosts weight loss to 24%, highest yet seen in trials | CNN (2024)

    FAQs

    Next-generation drug from Eli Lilly boosts weight loss to 24%, highest yet seen in trials | CNN? ›

    An experimental drug from Eli Lilly helped patients with obesity lose an average of 24% of their body weight over 48 weeks on the highest dose in a mid-stage study, the most weight loss seen yet in a new class of drugs that's revolutionizing the field.

    What is the new Eli Lilly weight loss drug? ›

    Eli Lilly submitted data for tirzepatide as a treatment for moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea and obesity to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration earlier this year and plans to submit data on the drug's use for heart failure later this year, the company said in the release.

    Can I get tirzepatide for weight loss? ›

    Yes, tirzepatide is FDA approved for chronic weight management in adults. But there are certain requirements recommended by the manufacturer. You may qualify for tirzepatide for weight loss if: You have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30.

    How close is the FDA to approving Mounjaro for weight loss? ›

    FDA Approves New Version of Diabetes Drug Mounjaro for Weight Loss. Nov. 8, 2023, at 12:54 p.m. A new version of the popular diabetes treatment Mounjaro can be sold as a weight-loss drug, U.S. regulators announced Wednesday.

    What is the strongest weight loss prescription pill? ›

    Phentermine is sometimes considered the strongest weight loss prescription pill in terms of potency, but it's usually recommended for short-term use. Phentermine-topiramate might work better, as it combines an appetite-suppressing stimulant with an anticonvulsant to make you feel full — plus, it can be taken longer.

    How to get Eli Lilly weight loss drug? ›

    Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound, announced Tuesday it will begin selling the weight loss drug directly to consumers through the company's direct pharmacy, LillyDirect.

    How do you get $25 wegovy? ›

    How do you get Wegovy for $25 a month? Novo Nordisk has a savings offer where you can pay as little as $0 for a 28-day supply of Wegovy for up to 13 fills. After your 13th month, you may pay as little as $25 per 28-day supply or one box of Wegovy injectable medication.

    How did Kelly Clarkson lose weight? ›

    She confirmed the rumors during an episode of her talk show, "The Kelly Clarkson Show," while conversing with Whoopi Goldberg, who also has taken a weight loss medication. She also previously shared that being more active by walking around New York City and trying out a high protein diet have helped her lose weight.

    Who cannot take tirzepatide? ›

    Tirzepatide is contraindicated in patients with medullary thyroid cancer. Tirzepatide is also contraindicated in multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type-2 (MEN-2).

    How much does tirzepatide cost monthly? ›

    Pharmacies often have different pricing for Tirzepatide, with average monthly costs ranging from $1,000 to $1,200. These prices may fluctuate based on the patient's location, the pharmacy's supplier, and the dosage required.

    How to get Mounjaro for $25? ›

    MONTHLY AND ANNUAL MAXIMUM SAVINGS: For patients with commercial insurance coverage for Mounjaro: You must have commercial insurance that covers Mounjaro®(tirzepatide) and a prescription consistent with FDA-approved product labeling to pay as little as $25 for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month prescription fill of ...

    Which is better, Ozempic or Mounjaro? ›

    In a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers compared Ozempic and Mounjaro in real-world conditions and found that people who took Mounjaro lost significantly more weight than those who took Ozempic. Moreover, the longer the patients kept taking the drugs, the wider the gap became.

    How much does Mounjaro cost per month? ›

    Without insurance, the average monthly cost of Mounjaro is between $1,000 to $1,200, depending on the pharmacy. Although your medical team may prescribe Mounjaro off-label for weight loss, your insurance company may only cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes, since that's what it is FDA approved for.

    What is the weight loss drug $1000 a month? ›

    How much will Zepbound cost? The list price of Zepbound is more than $1,000 per month. And most health insurance companies are not yet covering these new weight loss medications.

    What is the pill everyone is taking to lose weight? ›

    Wegovy, a higher-dose version of Ozempic, is prescribed for chronic weight loss management. The medication received FDA approval in 2021 and is intended for adults with a body mass index of 27 or above, with weight-related health conditions.

    What is the King Kong of weight loss drugs? ›

    Mounjaro: The King Kong of weight loss medication

    Clinical trials have shown remarkable results, with Mounjaro leading to substantial reductions in both blood sugar levels and body weight compared to other treatment options like Wegovy.

    How much does tirzepatide weight loss cost? ›

    A value analysis published in early 2023 found that the estimated cost to treat a 1% reduction in body weight with tirzepatide was $985, versus $1,845 with semaglutide. The analysis was based on GoodRx prices from October 2022, before tirzepatide was approved for weight loss under the brand name Zepbound.

    What is the Lilly version of Ozempic? ›

    Tirzepatide is sold under the brand names Mounjaro for diabetes treatment and Zepbound for weight loss. Semaglutide is used for diabetes treatment under the name Ozempic and is approved for weight loss treatment under the brand name Wegovy.

    Are Ozempic and Mounjaro the same? ›

    Mounjaro and Ozempic are different drugs, although they work in a similar way. Mounjaro is a GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonist. Ozempic acts only on GLP-1. They're both approved to lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes in combination with a healthy diet and exercise.

    How much is tirzepatide at a compound pharmacy? ›

    Compounded tirzepatide prices vary: 1 vial (2.5mg/wk, 5mg/wk) costs $399/mo, 2 vials (7.5mg/wk, 10mg/wk) $599/mo, 3 vials (12.5mg/wk, 15mg/wk) $749/mo. Excludes physician visits, labwork, or membership.

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