The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly is developing a type 2 diabetes and obesity drug called Tirzepatide and, to everyone’s surprise, the results have been truly spectacular.
The drug is in experimental phase III and has already been tested in patients, showing weight loss of up to 22 percent in just 72 weeks.
The research involved more than 2,500 overweight or obese patients. They were randomly given a placebo or one of three doses of tirzepatide (15, 10, or 5 milligrams), which were administered weekly via injection. In addition to medical treatment, they were asked to follow a low-calorie diet and increase their physical activity.
After 72 weeks of treatment, weight loss in people who received Tirzepatide was 16 to 22 percent. While those who received placebo doses only lost two percent of their body weight, equivalent to two kilograms.
- Patients receiving 15 mg doses lost 22 percent of their body weight, approximately 24 kg.
- Patients who received the 10 mg dose achieved a 21 percent loss, equivalent to 22 kg.
- Patients who received the 5 mg dose saw a 16 percent reduction, approximately 16 kg less.
Until now, the results of the experimental phase III of Tirzepatide have not been published in professional journals. However, this discovery is a breakthrough for science and medicine, as this type of weight loss has only been seen in patients undergoing bariatric surgery.
The ability to lose 15, 20, or 25 percent of your total body weight with medication is incredible, as these types of results have typically only been seen in patients who have had bariatric surgery.
– Samantha Harris, endocrinologist at Scripps Clinic
Specialists in overweight and obesity are already paying full attention to this new drug, because if it is a complete success and receives the required approval, it could help thousands of people to regain their ideal weight and with it, their health and self-esteem.
I think we are seeing a new era of therapeutics here. And these drugs are really going to make a significant difference in our fight against a lot of these chronic diseases that we’ve really struggled to overcome.
– Michael Albert, obesity specialist