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Tirzepatide achieved superior A1C and body weight reductions across all three doses compared to injectable semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes

Published: 2021-03-04 11:45:00 ET
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Trial participants taking the highest dose of tirzepatide (15 mg) achieved an A1C reduction of 2.46 percent and weight loss of 12.4 kg (27.3 lb., 13.1 percent), double the weight reduction compared to those taking semaglutide 1 mg

At the lowest dose of tirzepatide (5 mg), participants achieved A1C and body weight reductions of 2.09 percent and 7.8 kg (17.2 lb., 8.5 percent), significantly greater than semaglutide

INDIANAPOLIS, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Tirzepatide led to superior A1C and body weight reductions from baseline across all three doses compared to injectable semaglutide 1 mg in adults with type 2 diabetes in Eli Lilly and Company's (NYSE: LLY) 40-week SURPASS-2 clinical trial. In topline results from the largest SURPASS trial to date, using the efficacy estimandi, the highest dose of tirzepatide (15 mg) reduced A1C by 2.46 percent and body weight by 12.4 kg (27.3 lb., 13.1 percent). The lowest dose of tirzepatide (5 mg) reduced A1C by 2.09 percent and body weight by 7.8 kg (17.2 lb., 8.5 percent) compared to semaglutide at 1.86 percent and 6.2 kg (13.7 lb., 6.7 percent).

Additionally, 51 percent of those taking tirzepatide 15 mg achieved an A1C of less than 5.7 percent – the level seen in people without diabetes – compared to 20 percent of those taking semaglutide. The overall safety profile of tirzepatide was similar to previously reported SURPASS trials and the well-established glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist class. Across all treatment arms, the most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal-related.

Tirzepatide is a novel investigational once-weekly dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and GLP-1 receptor agonist that integrates the actions of both incretins into a single molecule, representing a new class of medicines being studied for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

"Head-to-head studies are the gold standard for clinicians assessing the efficacy of investigational treatments, and these results show that all three doses of tirzepatide delivered superior A1C and weight reductions compared to the highest approved dose of semaglutide to treat type 2 diabetes," said Juan Pablo Frías, M.D., Medical Director, National Research Institute and Principal Investigator of SURPASS-2. "Newer treatment options may help people with type 2 diabetes achieve their A1C and weight loss goals. In SURPASS-2, tirzepatide delivered clinically meaningful efficacy, beyond what has been seen with an existing medicine in the established GLP-1 receptor agonist class."

SURPASS-2 was a 40-week, randomized, open-label trial comparing the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide to semaglutide as an add-on to metformin in adults with type 2 diabetes. The study randomized 1,879 participants, who had a mean duration of diabetes of 8.6 years, a baseline A1C of 8.28 percent and a baseline weight of 93.7 kg.

Across both estimandsii, all three doses of tirzepatide (5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg) delivered superior A1C and body weight reductions compared to semaglutide. Of the participants receiving tirzepatide 15 mg, 92 percent achieved an A1C of less than 7 percent, the American Diabetes Association's recommended target for people with diabetes, compared to 81 percent of those taking semaglutide. Specifically, results showed:

Efficacy Estimand Results

Tirzepatide 5 mg

Tirzepatide 10 mg

Tirzepatide 15 mg

Semaglutide 1 mg

A1C reduction frombaseline of 8.28%

-2.09%*

-2.37%*

-2.46%*

-1.86%

Weight reduction from baseline of 93.7 kg

-7.8 kg* (-8.5%)

-10.3 kg* (-11.0%)

-12.4 kg* (-13.1%)

-6.2 kg (-6.7%)

Percent of participants achieving A1C