Zepbound beats Wegovy for weight loss in first head-to-head trial of blockbuster drugs
People taking Eli Lilly's obesity drug, Zepbound, lost nearly 50% more weight than those using rival Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in the first head-to-head study of the blockbuster medications.
Clinical trial participants who took tirzepatide, the drug sold as Zepbound, lost an average of 50 pounds (22.8 kilograms) over 72 weeks, while those who took semaglutide, or Wegovy, lost about 33 pounds (15 kilograms). That's according to the study funded by Lilly, which was published Sunday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Both drugs are part of a new class of medications that work by mimicking hormones in the gut and brain that regulate appetite and feelings of fullness. But tirzepatide targets two such hormones, known as GLP-1 and GIP, while semaglutide targets GLP-1 alone, said Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine.
'Two drugs together can produce better weight loss,' said Aronne, who led the study and presented the findings Sunday at the European Congress on Obesity in Spain.
While tirzepatide won out in what Aronne said many view as 'a drag race of efficacy,' both are important tools for treating obesity, which affects about 40% of American adults.
'The point of these medications is to improve health,' he said. 'The majority of people won't need the most effective medication.'
The trial included 751 people from across the U.S. who were overweight or had obesity and at least one other weight-related health problem, but not diabetes. Participants received weekly injections of the highest tolerated doses of Zepbound, either 10 milligrams or 15 milligrams, or Wegovy, 1.7 milligrams or 2.4 milligrams.
By the end of the trial, those who took Zepbound lost about 20% of their body weight on average, compared with a nearly 14% loss for those who took Wegovy. The tirzepatide group trimmed about 7 inches (17.8 centimeters) from their waist circumference, compared to about 5 inches (12.7 centimeters) with semaglutide. In addition, nearly 32% of people taking Zepbound lost at least a quarter of their body weight, compared to about 16% of those taking Wegovy, the study found.
Weight loss was about 6% lower in men than in women in both groups, the authors noted. As participants in both groups lost more weight, they saw improvements in health markers such as blood pressure, blood fat and blood sugar levels.
More than three-quarters of patients taking both drugs reported at least one side effect, mostly mild to moderate gastrointestinal issues such as nausea, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting. About 6% of participants taking Zepbound left the trial because of adverse events, compared with 8% of those taking semaglutide.
The GLP-1 drugs have become increasingly popular, with at least 1 in 8 U.S. adults reporting their use, according to a 2024 survey by KFF, a independent health policy research organization. Zepbound generated $4.9 billion in global sales last year. Wegovy brought in nearly $8.8 billion (58.2 billlion Danish kroner).
Access and affordability have limited wider use of the drugs. Tirzepatide and semaglutide were removed recently from a list of drug shortages by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Both manufacturers recently released programs that cut costs to about $500 per month or less, depending on the dose.
Other factors can affect access. This week, CVS Health said Wegovy will become the preferred option on its standard formulary, or list of covered drugs, as of July 1. Zepbound will be excluded.
It's important to have a range of drugs to treat a disease as widespread as obesity in the U.S., said Dr. Angela Fitch, chief medical officer of knownwell, an obesity care company. Wegovy has been found to cut the risk of serious heart problems by 20%, she noted. A drug may work well for one patient, but not for others.
'We're going to need to use them all just because we have so many patients who need treatment,' she added.
___
AP Health Writer Tom Murphy in Indianapolis contributed to this report.
___
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Jonel Aleccia, The Associated Press
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Miami Herald
30 minutes ago
- Miami Herald
Domino's Pizza, McDonald's rating surprise tied to persistent consumer issue
Even the Hamburglar didn't see this one coming. Excessive weight has been a persistent problem in America, where at least one in five adults in each U.S. state is living with obesity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Don't miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet's free daily newsletter As obesity rates have risen, so have scientists' efforts to address this serious health issue, which can cause asthma, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and even some cancers. Early attempts to treat obesity came to the market as early as the 1930s. Amphetamines were the prevalent treatment in the 1940s and 1950s and demand continued into the 1990s. Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, which mimic the action of the naturally occurring hormone GLP-1, have been available for about two decades. GLP-1 medications, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro, have been used for years to treat Type 2 diabetes, and studies have found that they are also effective at encouraging weight loss. Wegovy and Ozempic are manufactured by Novo Nordisk (NVO) , while Eli Lilly (LLY) makes Zepbound and Mounjaro. Image source:One investment firm says increased use of these medications could have serious implications for two of the biggest names in the fast-food industry: McDonald's (MCD) and Domino's Pizza (DPZ) . The market for anti-obesity drugs, particularly those using injectable versions of GLP 1-based drugs, is still new and continuously evolving, Goldman Sachs said in a May 22 report. More Restaurants Beloved Mexican restaurant closing iconic location after 63 yearsMajor restaurant chain quietly closes several locationsIconic restaurant closing its doors after 32 years The investment firm lowered its projections for such medication and now forecasts the global market to reach $95 billion by 2030. That's down from the previous estimate of $130 billion to reflect trends influencing how the drugs are priced, how long patients stay on them, and how patient populations are segmented. Goldman lowered its U.S. market projections to a peak of $70 billion, but the firm sees room for greater penetration in markets outside the U.S. Goldman forecasts a market peak of $50 billion outside the US, compared with $35 billion previously. A survey of more than 50 doctors in the US found that lower doses of anti-obesity medications are working well for a majority of patients and insurance coverage is the most important factor in the decision-making process, Goldman Sachs wrote. "But to be clear, even with this moderated forecast, we see a significant growth opportunity for both existing players as well as new entrants into this market," said Asad Haider, head of the health-care business unit within Goldman Sachs Research. Demand for GPL-1 drugs could dramatically hinder the food and restaurant industries, according to a study from Cornell's SC Johnson College of Business and the data firm Numerator. The report, entitled "The No Hunger Games," found that households with at least one user of GLP-1 drugs reduced its grocery spending by about 6% within six months of starting the drugs. The spending cut was as much as 9% for higher-income households. "We also find an 8.6% decline in spending at fast-food chains, coffee shops and limited-service restaurants," the study said. "Our findings highlight the potential for GLP-1 medications to significantly change food demand, a trend with increasingly important implications for the food industry as GLP-1 adoption continues to grow." The study warned that common side effects of GLP-1 medications, such as nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal discomfort, have reportedly led to reduced adherence or discontinued use for some patients. Related: McDonald's analyst grills new stock price target on McCrispy reaction "Moreover, their long-term efficacy and safety remain areas of ongoing investigation," the report said. Redburn Atlantic analyst Chris Luyckx focused on the growing adoption of GLP-1 in recent research reports. Luyckx double-downgraded McDonald's to sell from buy with a price target of $260, down from $319. The analyst expects the GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to suppress consumer appetites and says they present an underappreciated longer-term threat for McDonald's. A 1% drag on sales today "could easily build to 10% or more over time," particularly for restaurant brands skewed toward lower-income consumers, the analyst tells investors in a research note. McDonald's stock was down about 1.3% at last check and is up 18.5% from a year ago. Redburn Atlantic also initiated coverage of Domino's Pizza with a sell rating and $340 price target. Domino's, the world's largest pizza chain, faces the heaviest pressure from adoption of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, with high exposure to dinner occasions and lower-income consumers, the firm said. Redburn Atlantic said the company's organic traffic remains weak, with carry-out far outpacing delivery. Challenged system-sales growth and elevated consensus expectations present downside risk for Domino's, the firm said. McDonald's closed regular trading on June 10 down 1.4% at $300.43. Domino's shares were off 2.7% at $455.49. Related: Fund-management veteran skips emotion in investment strategy The Arena Media Brands, LLC THESTREET is a registered trademark of TheStreet, Inc.


Medscape
33 minutes ago
- Medscape
SLEEP 2025
Narcolepsy an Independent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Narcolepsy is associated with an increased risk for CVD, independent of common comorbid conditions and medications used to treat the disorder, new research showed. Medscape Medical News , Jun 07, 2024 Narcolepsy an Independent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Better Sleep Tied to Less Loneliness Good quality sleep may have a role in driving down rates of loneliness, especially among younger adults. Medscape Medical News , Jun 21, 2024 Better Sleep Tied to Less Loneliness Couples-Based Tx for Sleep Apnea Nurtures Happier Relationships Couples-based therapy called WePAP boosted treatment adherence for sleep apnea, leading to higher relationship satisfaction and lower levels of conflict, a study suggested. Medscape Medical News, xx-Date-Here-xx
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
If You Do One Move For Strong, Sculpted Shoulders, Please Let It Be This One
Lateral raises may not look like they're doing much for your body, but trust me—they do. They're an essential shoulder exercise that will amp up your strength and stability in a big way. The move targets mainly your deltoids (the triangular muscles on top of your shoulders) and will create visible shoulder definition if that's your thing. But you won't reap the benefits of this move unless it's done correctly. Too often, I see people just swaying and swinging their dumbbells around, without any sort of structure or form. Not only is that not going to get you the results you want—it's also putting at risk for injury. That's why as a certified personal trainer and founder of KKSWEAT, I'm going to teach you everything you need to know about lateral raises, including how to do them, technique, variations, and more. Stand with a dumbbell in each hand with arms by sides, palms facing down and inward. Without bending arms, raise them up and straight out to sides until they're shoulder-level, still in your periphery. Lower the dumbbells back to starting position. That's 1 rep. Form cue: When you raise your arms, keep them at shoulder-level—and no higher. Do not lift them up to your ears. Make sure to keep your head above your tailbone, too, with no movement in your upper torso. Reps/sets for best results: I recommend using 5- to 8-pound weights for three sets of 8 to 12 reps. Make sure to take a 30- to 45-second rest in between sets. I can't say this enough, but lateral raises are a prime shoulder move. It's an isolation exercise, meaning that it's extremely focused on a particular joint and group of muscles. In this case, it's your shoulder joints and your deltoid muscles. Strengthening these can protect you from future injuries when you're lifting—and score you toned shoulders at the same time. Do them with your thumbs up. Standard form for a lateral raise is with your palms facing down (as demonstrated above). But if you're struggling with this form, try doing the move with your thumbs up. With this modification, you'll find it's easier to keep your shoulders down and focus on that stability. Play with tempo. Try sneaking a three-second hold into your lateral raise before bringing your arms back down. This will build up your resistance and strength. Try a front raise instead. This is basically the same thing as a lateral raise, except you'll be bringing your arms up in front of you, rather than out to your sides. By doing so, you'll target slightly different muscles to mix it up. Add it to your shoulder circuit. Dumbbell lateral raises aren't meant to be a warm up and should only be done after you've substantially worked out the other parts of your upper body. This helps ensure you'll have the shoulder mobility to do the move correctly. Plus, lateral raises target smaller muscles, and I generally recommend starting with chest and back movements (since those are bigger muscles) to warm up first. Personally, I usually put my lateral raises about three quarters of the way into my shoulder circuit. You'll find that by warming up larger muscles first, it's easier to focus on form, avoid injury, and reap all the benefits the lateral raise has to offer. You Might Also Like Jennifer Garner Swears By This Retinol Eye Cream These New Kicks Will Help You Smash Your Cross-Training Goals