Eli Lilly Drug Proves Effective In Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

Eli Lilly and Company recently announced that tirzepatide elicited superior A1C and body weight reductions from baseline in adults with type 2 diabetes with increased cardiovascular risk. 

Data from the SURPASS-4 clinical trial, published in The Lancet, showed that all three doses of tirzepatide, 5 milligrams, 10 milligrams, and 15 milligrams, elicited statistically significant A1C bodyweight reductions compared to insulin glargine at 52 weeks.

For example, 91 percent of participants who received the highest dose of tirzepatide achieved A1C reduction (2.58 percent), while only 51 percent of those who received insulin glargine achieved A1C reduction (1.44 percent). 

The highest dose of tirzepatide also evoked a body weight reduction of 25.8 pounds, compared to individuals treated with insulin glargine, whose body weight increased by 4.2 pounds. 

Researchers also found that 15 milligrams of tirzepatide decreased total cholesterol by 5.6 percent, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by 7.9 percent, and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol by 10.8 percent in an additional exploratory endpoint.

“Given the progressive nature of type 2 diabetes, evaluating the positive efficacy results we have seen with tirzepatide over longer periods of time is important,” Jeff Emmick, MD, PhD, vice president of product development at Eli Lilly and Company said in the announcement. 

“Throughout the length of SURPASS-4, tirzepatide delivered robust improvements in blood glucose levels, significant weight loss and consistent safety results in adults with type 2 diabetes and increased cardiovascular risk,” Emmick continued.

Tirzepatide is a once-weekly dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. The drug represents a new class of medicines researchers are currently studying to treat type 2 diabetes.

SURPASS-4 is the largest and longest trial completed of the Phase 3 program studying tirzepatide as a potential type 2 diabetes treatment. The overall safety profile of tirzepatide is positive, with gastrointestinal side effects being the most commonly reported adverse events. 

According to John Doupis, MD, PhD, director of the diabetes division and clinical research center at Iatriko Paleou Falirou Medical Center in Greece and senior investigator for SURPASS-4, his team is encouraged by the results for tirzepatide as they continue to explore the potential impact of the drug to treat type 2 diabetes.