Two drugs, Eli Lilly's Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Novo Nordisk's Ozempic (semaglutide), have emerged as popular treatments for weight loss. In a recent comparison study published in JAMA Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed electronic health record data from over 18,000 US patients between May 2022 and September 2023 to compare outcomes among those receiving the two injected medications.
The findings showed that patients on Mounjaro were more likely to lose weight and achieved greater weight loss than those on Ozempic. Specifically, nearly 81.8% of the Mounjaro group saw five percent or greater weight loss compared to 66.5% of the Ozempic group.
Additionally, at 12 months, the average patient on Mounjaro lost seven percent more weight than that of Ozempic.
Both drugs belong to the GLP-1 analog class that mimics a naturally occurring hormone and makes people feel full. They have been proven effective in controlling diabetes and producing significant weight loss in patients.
However, it is important to note that no significant differences were noted in the rates of adverse events between the two groups, though discontinuation of the drug was common among both sets of patients.
Both drugs have side effects like indigestion, dizziness and mildly elevated heart rate. Severe but rare events include bowel obstruction and pancreatitis. They can also lower people's risks of heart attacks and strokes, and there is emerging evidence of benefits against certain obesity-related cancers including kidney, pancreatic, esophageal, ovarian, liver and colorectal cancers.
Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers and complications from diseases such as Covid-19. It is costly for healthcare systems and difficult to treat. While its causes can be lifestyle-related, it can also be influenced by genetics.
Future work is needed to compare the effect of tirzepatide and semaglutide on other key endpoints such as reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events.
