Lilly’s tirzepatide superior to semaglutide in head-to-head trial showing an average weight loss of 20.2% vs. 13.7%
Participants using tirzepatide lost 50.3 lbs. (22.8 kg) and participants on semaglutide lost 33.1 lbs. (15.0 kg).
SURMOUNT-5 compared tirzepatide, a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, to semaglutide, a mono GLP-1 receptor agonist in adults living with obesity without diabetes.
INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 2024
Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) today announced topline results from the SURMOUNT-5 phase 3b open-label randomized clinical trial. Tirzepatide provided a 47% greater relative weight loss compared to semaglutide. On average, tirzepatide led to a superior weight loss of 20.2% compared to 13.7% with semaglutide.i At 72 weeks, tirzepatide beat semaglutide on both the primary endpoint and all five key secondary endpoints in this trial of adults living with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related medical problem and without diabetes.
“Given the increased interest around obesity medications, we conducted this study to help health care providers and patients make informed decisions about treatment choice,” said Leonard C. Glass, MD, FACE, senior vice president of global medical affairs at Lilly Cardiometabolic Health. “We are thrilled that today’s findings showed the superior weight loss of tirzepatide, which helped patients achieve 47% more relative weight loss compared to semaglutide. Tirzepatide is in a class of its own as the only FDA-approved dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist obesity medication, and it’s changing how millions of people manage this chronic disease.”
In addition, in a key secondary endpoint, 31.6% of people taking tirzepatide achieved at least 25% body weight loss compared to 16.1% of those taking semaglutide.
The overall safety profile of tirzepatide in SURMOUNT-5 was similar to previously reported SURMOUNT trials. The most commonly reported adverse events in SURMOUNT-5 for both tirzepatide and semaglutide were gastrointestinal-related and were generally mild to moderate in severity.
Lilly will continue to evaluate the SURMOUNT-5 results, which will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a medical meeting next year
