On January 21, Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide injection received implicit clinical trial approval in China for long-term weight management in patients with overweight or obesity. This marks the second implicit clinical trial approval for this drug in China; previously, it had been approved to conduct clinical trials for type 2 diabetes in the country.
Tirzepatide is a dual agonist of the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors. A Phase IIb clinical study demonstrated that tirzepatide significantly improved glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes while also reducing body weight. Data at 6 months showed that tirzepatide reduced mean HbA1c levels by 2.4% and body weight by 11.3 kg (12.7%) in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Source: Eli Lilly Official Website
In June 2019, Eli Lilly announced Phase II dose-escalation clinical trial results at the ADA conference, demonstrating that tirzepatide reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events in patients while maintaining efficacy. The specific data showed a 2% reduction in HbA1c levels and a weight loss of 5.7 kg.
In addition to its significant efficacy in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity, tirzepatide has also demonstrated certain therapeutic potential for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In a 2019 report, the renowned investment firm EvaluatePharma listed this Eli Lilly drug as one of the most valuable investment opportunities.
Source: EvaluatePharma