In individuals with prediabetes and obesity or excess weight, the pharmaceutical company asserts that the medication tirzepatide reduces the risk of developing diabetes by an impressive 94%.
The pharmaceutical company announced on Tuesday that people who received a 15-mg dose of the medication experienced an average decrease in body weight of approximately 23%, contrasting with a 2.1% decrease in those given a placebo.
During a 17-week post-treatment interval, individuals ceasing the use of tirzepatide saw a resurgence in weight gain, with a "some increment" in progression towards type 2 diabetes, according to the company's press release.
Most reported side effects were gastrointestinal in nature and ranked mild to moderate in severity, the company stated. The most prevalent gastrointestinal-related side effects among patients using tirzepatide were diarrhea, nausea, constipation, and vomiting.
Approximately 1 out of 3 adults in the US, equating to about 84 million individuals, suffer from prediabetes – a condition characterized by blood sugar levels higher than normal but not yet reaching diabetes diagnosis criteria. A majority of these individuals, 70%, will eventually develop diabetes. Traditionally, lifestyle changes, particularly weight loss, have been regarded as the primary management strategy.
Subscribe to CNN Health's weekly newsletter
- Subscribe here to receive The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team.*
Tirzepatide works by emulating hormones that provoke insulin release, enhance feelings of satiety, and decrease appetite. It interacts with two hormone receptors, GIP and GLP-1. It belongs to a novel category of drugs, which includes semaglutide, recognized as Ozempic for diabetes treatment and Wegovy for weight reduction, that have gained significant popularity lately.
In previous trials of Zepbound, the medication demonstrated more average weight loss than other approved medications. In November, the US Food and Drug Administration authorized it as Mounjaro for individuals with obesity or those categorized as overweight with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Similar to other drugs in this category, it's administered as a weekly injection and suggested in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The findings from the latest trial will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal and presented at ObesityWeek 2024 in November, the company mentioned.
CNN’s Meg Tirrell contributed to this report.
The use of tirzepatide as a treatment for obesity and related health conditions could potentially improve overall health outcomes for the majority of prediabetic individuals in the US. Regular exercise and a balanced diet are still essential, but tirzepatide could provide additional support by promoting weight loss and helping manage blood sugar levels.
