Eli Lilly Reports Phase 3 Data Showing Tirzepatide Achieves ~26% Weight Loss in Adults with Obesity or Overweight

According to the Zhitong Finance APP, Eli Lilly (LLY.US) released data from two Phase 3 clinical trials of its obesity drug tirzepatide on Thursday. The data showed that participants lost an average of about 26% of their body weight over more than 80 weeks.

SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4 trials recruited adults with obesity or overweight symptoms and other weight-related chronic diseases (excluding type 2 diabetes) in the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan, China.

Eli Lilly stated that, compared with the placebo, both studies achieved all the primary and key secondary endpoints of tirzepatide. The drug, marketed under the brand name Mounjaro for the treatment of diabetes, showed an overall safety profile consistent with previous trials and similar drugs targeting intestinal enzymes.

The SURMOUNT-3 trial included a 12-week lead-in period during which patients received a low-calorie diet, exercise, and weekly counseling sessions. After losing at least 5% of their body weight during the lead-in period, patients treated with tirzepatide lost an additional 21.1% of their weight over the subsequent 72 weeks, while those on placebo experienced an average weight gain of 3.3%.

In the SURMOUNT-4 trial, patients who continued on tirzepatide alone after initially receiving tirzepatide treatment for 36 weeks experienced an additional 6.7% weight loss over the subsequent 52 weeks.

In contrast, participants who took the placebo experienced an average weight gain of 14.8% over the 88-week trial. Jeff Emmick, Senior Vice President of Product Development at Eli Lilly and Company, commented: "The results of SURMOUNT-3 challenge the notion that overweight or obese patients can achieve their weight loss goals through diet and exercise alone."

The results of the SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4 trials have not yet undergone peer review, which is typically conducted before publication in medical journals.