Superior weight reduction with tirzepatide independent of gastrointestinal adverse events in people with type 2 diabetes

A recent study suggests that people with type 2 diabetes showed superior weight reduction with tirzepatide, independent of gastrointestinal (GI) adverse events (AEs) and nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea (N/V/D). This study was published in the journal, Diabetes, Obesity & Metabolism.

The post hoc analysis of the SURPASS -1 to -5 clinical trials included 6263 participants whose treatment for type 2 diabetes involved a random assignment to receive tirzepatide (5, 10, or 15 mg) once a week as monotherapy or in addition to baseline antihyperglycemic medication(s) as a comparator (placebo, semaglutide 1 mg once a week, or titrated daily basal insulins). The participants self-reported (yes/no) for any N/V/D or GI AEs. Change in body weight was assessed from baseline within each trial and subgroup. Mediation analyses to study the effects of tirzepatide on weight change were conducted.

At the end of the study period, nausea (12%-24%), vomiting (2%-13%), and diarrhoea (12%-22%) were the most commonly reported GI AEs with tirzepatide. The mean weight reduction was significantly greater with tirzepatide when compared to the placebo, with consistency being maintained between participants who reported N/V/D and those who didn’t. At the primary timepoint, individuals who experienced N/V/D symptoms showed weight reduction ranging from -6.2 to -14.9 kg, while those without these symptoms had a mean weight reduction ranging from -6.2 to -13.3 kg. According to the median analyses, there was only a minimal contribution with N/V/D and GI AEs to the overall difference in weight change.

From the above results, it can be concluded that superior weight reduction observed with tirzepatide when compared to other comparators appears to be independent of N/V/D or GI AEs.