Promising Results: Weekly Weight Loss Drug Shows Significant Benefits for Obese Diabetics

New trial data reveals that obese individuals with diabetes may be able to shed up to 2.5st (stones) by using a weekly weight loss medication. The drug in question is called Tirzepatide and is manufactured by Eli Lilly. By mimicking hormones in the body, Tirzepatide helps people feel fuller for longer after eating, leading to weight loss. Having gained approval from the medicines watchdog last year, this injection-based drug is expected to become available to patients in the UK soon.

The results of the phase three trial demonstrate that overweight or obese patients with Type 2 diabetes achieved significantly greater weight loss when using Tirzepatide in comparison to relying solely on diet and exercise. Participants who took a 15mg dosage of the drug once a week lost up to 16% of their body weight, equivalent to around 2.5st, while those on a 10mg dosage lost up to 13%, or 2.1st. It's worth noting that all trial participants, including the placebo group, followed a low-calorie diet and exercise regimen. The placebo group experienced a 3% weight loss over the course of the 72-week trial.

In the UK, an estimated five million people are living with diabetes, with around 90% of them having Type 2 diabetes. Additionally, approximately 85% of individuals with Type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. This type of diabetes can also contribute to other health issues such as kidney failure, heart attacks, strokes, and, as recently discovered, lung damage.

The trial results also highlight that a higher percentage of participants in the intervention group achieved a weight loss of over 5%: 79.2% for the 10mg dosage, 82.7% for the 15mg dosage, and 32.5% for the placebo group.

Dr. Kunal Gulati, Executive Director of Diabetes Medical Affairs at Lilly Northern Europe, emphasized the challenges of managing obesity, especially for individuals with Type 2 diabetes. While prevention is a crucial focus, the development of future obesity treatments remains vital.

These findings follow the recent approval of another weight loss drug called Wegovy for NHS use. With the endorsement by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, approximately 35,000 individuals can be prescribed these weekly injections each year.