Latest news with #Aronne
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Study directly compares Zepbound and Wegovy for weight-loss results
Weight-loss medications continue to grow in popularity as an anti-obesity tool — but are some more effective than others? The question was explored in a new study published this month in The New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers compared the safety and efficacy of tirzepatide (brand name Zepbound) and semaglutide (brand name Wegovy) in a 72-week clinical trial. Weight-loss Medications May Also Benefit Common Medical Problem, Study Finds The randomized, controlled trial — called SURMOUNT-5 — included 751 people throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico who had obesity but not type 2 diabetes. "Doctors, insurance companies and patients are always asking, 'Which drug is more effective?'" said Dr. Louis Aronne, director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center and the Sanford I. Weill Professor of Metabolic Research at Weill Cornell Medicine, in the release. "This study allowed us to do a direct comparison." Read On The Fox News App "The results are consistent with — in fact, almost identical to — what we've seen in trials in which these drugs were evaluated independently," added Aronne, who was a principal investigator in the trial. The study found that tirzepatide achieved greater weight loss, with participants shedding about 50 pounds (20.2% of their body weight). The group taking semaglutide lost an average of 33 pounds or 13.7% of their baseline weight, according to a press release summarizing the study outcome. Overall, 32% of the people taking tirzepatide lost at least 25% of their body weight; semaglutide users lost around 16%. Weight Loss, Diabetes Drugs Can Cause Mood Changes: What To Know About Behavioral Side Effects Tirzepatide users also reported a "greater reduction in waist circumference" than those on semaglutide. The likely reason for tirzepatide's greater effectiveness is that it uses a "dual mechanism of action," according to Aronne. "Whereas semaglutide works by activating receptors for a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, tirzepatide mimics not only GLP-1, but also an additional hormone, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP)," the release stated. "Together, these actions reduce hunger, lower blood-glucose levels and affect fat cell metabolism." Weight-loss Drugs' Impact On Cancer Risk Revealed In New Study Additional trials are actively exploring whether tirzepatide also reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke, a benefit that has been linked to semaglutide. The study was led by an investigator at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. It was also conducted with the University of Texas McGovern Medical School, the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, the University College Dublin and Eli Lilly (maker of Zepbound). The participants all received guidance regarding nutrition and exercise. The reported side effects were very similar for the two drugs, with 44% of people experiencing nausea and 25% having abdominal pain. Weight-loss Drugs To Get Surprising Endorsement From Global Health Giant Dr. Ada Londono, M.D., a board-certified obesity and internal medicine primary care physician with PlushCare — a virtual health platform offering primary care, therapy and weight management services — said she was not surprised by the study's findings. "The results are consistent with prior trials, confirming tirzepatide's advantage over semaglutide's single GLP-1 action," Londono, who is based in New York City, told Fox News Digital. Beyond weight loss, semaglutide has also shown potential benefits for cardiovascular health, sleep apnea and kidney disease, she noted. "These findings highlight the need for continued research to understand tirzepatide's broader health impacts," she said. "It's encouraging to see ongoing studies exploring the full potential of GLP-1 medications beyond weight management." Londono said these treatments can come with side effects. Semaglutide Found To Have Shocking Benefit For Liver Disease Patients In New Study "Most people on these medications only report mild symptoms, but some have experienced more serious reactions, such as pancreatitis," she told Fox News Digital. "This underscores the importance of reviewing your medical history and discussing any concerns with your healthcare provider." The study did have some limitations — chiefly that it was not a blinded analysis and participants knew which medication they were receiving. This could introduce some level of bias, the researchers acknowledged. Londono pointed out that while the study's findings are "promising," it was funded by Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Zepbound. "This may raise questions about potential conflicts of interest," she said. "Additionally, the open-label design and 72-week duration may limit objectivity and long-term insight." While the study primarily looked at the impact of the medications, experts agreed there are other factors that play a role in successful weight management. "Weight loss is biological, but it's also emotional, and whole-person support can make the difference between short-term results and sustainable health," Dr. Rekha Kumar, chief medical officer at the weight care program Found and a practicing endocrinologist in New York City, told Fox News Digital. Kumar emphasized the importance of working with a physician to choose a weight-loss medication that matches the patient's personal goals and health status. "For example, if a patient has fatty liver, we will choose the GLP-1 that is proven to work best for liver disease," she said. Looking ahead, the researchers plan to investigate new versions of weight-loss drugs, including retatrutide, which mimics the hormones GLP-1, GIP and glucagon, according to the release. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Even though drugs like tirzepatide and semaglutide work really well, better than anything we have ever seen, we still have people who don't respond to them," said Aronne. "So, moving forward, we want to keep trying to do better." A spokesperson from Novo Nordisk, the company that makes Wegovy (semaglutide), sent a statement to Fox News Digital. "Across the respective clinical trial programs and in SURMOUNT-5, both Wegovy and Zepbound have demonstrated clinically significant weight reduction," the company said. "It is important to recognize that the comprehensive management of obesity goes beyond weight reduction alone." For more Health articles, visit The spokesperson also pointed out that in a previous trial, adults who were obese or overweight and who took Wegovy along with diet and exercise lost an average of 15.2% of their weight (~35 pounds) at the two-year mark, compared with 2.6% (~6 pounds) for patients taking a article source: Study directly compares Zepbound and Wegovy for weight-loss results
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Weight-loss jab Mounjaro helps people shed much more weight than rival
Weight-loss jab Mounjaro – dubbed the 'King Kong' of similar medicines – helps people shed significantly more weight than rival Wegovy, new research suggests. Key research pitching the drugs against each other found Mounjaro was superior when it came to shedding pounds and losing inches, though both drugs worked. Experts presented their findings at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga and published them in the New England Journal of Medicine. Both Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Wegovy (semaglutide) are weight-loss medicines that make people feel fuller for longer and therefore less hungry. The new randomised controlled trial involved 751 adult with obesity, but without type 2 diabetes. They received either Mounjaro at the maximum tolerated dose (10mg or 15mg) or Wegovy (1.7mg or 2.4mg) once a week for 72 weeks. The typical age of the people was 45 and most (65%) were female, with a typical body mass index (BMI) of 39. All had at least one known obesity-related complication, such as high blood pressure, sleep apnoea or heart disease. The typical drop in body weight at the end of the trial was a 20.2% reduction with Mounjaro and 13.7% with Wegovy, showing Mounjaro was superior. The drop in waist circumference was also 18.4cm on average with Mounjaro and 13cm with Wegovy. People on Mounjaro were more likely to reach their weight loss goals. One limitation to the study was that people knew which drug they were taking, though the researchers said the findings were in line with previous studies. The research was sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of Mounjaro. Our study shows that treatment with tirzepatide was superior to semaglutide with respect to reduction in body weight and waist circumference Dr Louis Aronne, from Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, who led the work, said the dual action of Mounjaro may explain the findings. Both Mounjaro and Wegovy mimic a hormone produced in the body called GLP-1 – a substance that is released in the gut when people consume food. This hormone slows the rate at which food is emptied from the stomach, reduces appetite via the brain and works on insulin levels. But Mounjaro also mimics another hormone known as GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide). Dr Aronne said: 'Our study shows that treatment with tirzepatide was superior to semaglutide with respect to reduction in body weight and waist circumference. 'Tirzepatide, while a single molecule, pharmacologically activates two metabolic receptors, GIP and GLP-1, which have both overlapping and non-overlapping expression and function. 'This dual agonism of tirzepatide may contribute to the higher weight reduction observed in the current study compared to semaglutide, a mono-agonist.' As people lost weight in the study, health factors such as blood pressure and unhealthy blood fats all improved. Speaking at the European Congress on Obesity in Malaga, Spain on Sunday, Dr Aronne said: 'This is actually the first head-to-head trial of two obesity medications, so I think we're going to start seeing more of these as new medications become available. 'I saw a list the other day of 150 medications… that are now in development, so many people now realise how important it is to manage body weight in addition to other metabolic factors. 'I've called it the golden age of obesity treatment. It took a long time!' Dr Aronne said semaglutide still remained an 'extremely effective' weight loss medication and that the trial did not intended to minimise its effects. He added: 'For example, if you have a patient with a BMI of 32, which is class one obesity, they could get to a BMI in the mid 20s, right around 25 (with semaglutide), which is normal. 'So the majority of people with obesity will do just fine on semaglutide. People at the higher end – class two, class three obesity – may ultimately do better with tirzepatide.'
WebMD
13-05-2025
- Health
- WebMD
Why Mounjaro Tops Ozempic for Weight Loss
May 12, 2025 – Turns out, two really is better than one – at least when it comes to weight loss drugs. In the first head-to-head trial of its kind, people with obesity who took tirzepatide (sold under the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound) lost more weight and inches from their waist than those who took semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy). Semaglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that boosts the hunger-suppressing hormone GLP-1. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist, targeting both GLP-1 and GIP. That means it acts on two hormone pathways, while semaglutide works on one. "We've learnt over the past 20 years or so that you can overcome the plateau effect with obesity drugs if you can add in drugs with mechanisms that are completely different," said Louis J. Aronne, MD, who led the study and is also the director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. "This is exactly what we see here." In the study, people taking tirzepatide lost about 20% of their body weight, while those taking semaglutide lost around 14%. They also were more likely to hit big weight loss goals – among those who lost 25% or more body weight, twice as many (32%) were on tirzepatide compared with semaglutide (16%). The findings were presented Sunday at the European Congress on Obesity 2025 in Spain, and published in The New England Journal of Medicine on the same day. The trial was sponsored by Eli Lilly & Company, the maker of tirzepatide. "They're both very good medications," said David Horner, MD, of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, who was not involved in the study. "One is not in doubt that tirzepatide has a greater weight loss benefit from the data. We're comparing a very good drug with a very good drug." First Head-to-Head Comparison Between Two Weight Loss Drugs Both tirzepatide and semaglutide have helped people lose weight in earlier studies, but this is the first time they've been compared side by side. Of the 751 people in the study, half took tirzepatide and half took semaglutide. Both groups received weekly shots for 72 weeks, using the highest dose they could handle without strong side effects. Most people in the study were women in their mid-40s. Most were White. Everyone had struggled with their weight for many years – 16 years, on average – and had tried and failed to lose weight through diet alone. Beyond the weight loss results, tirzepatide also helped people shrink their waistlines by an extra 2 inches – by 7 inches, versus 5 inches for semaglutide. That kind of difference is "clinically meaningful and has been shown to reduce blood pressure and other metabolic parameters," Aronne said. Sure enough, people on tirzepatide saw greater improvements in key health markers like blood pressure, blood sugar, insulin, and cholesterol. "In general, the more weight someone loses, then the better the metabolic parameters will be," Aronne said. Side effects were common and were mostly mild stomach problems like nausea or diarrhea, but few people stopped taking the medicine because of them, he said – only about 6% on tirzepatide and 8% on semaglutide. Of course, the right medicine for each patient depends on a lot of things – including insurance coverage and doctor recommendations – not just which one works best in studies, said Horner.
Global News
12-05-2025
- Health
- Global News
Zepbound beats Wegovy rival in 1st head-to-head weight loss study
People taking Eli Lilly's obesity drug, Zepbound, lost nearly 50 per cent 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 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. Story continues below advertisement 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 per cent 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.' 1:54 GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy reduce Alzheimer's risk for those with diabetes 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. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy By the end of the trial, those who took Zepbound lost about 20 per cent of their body weight on average, compared with a nearly 14 per cent loss for those who took Wegovy. The tirzepatide group trimmed about 7 inches (17.8 centimeters) from their waist circumference, compared to about five inches (12.7 centimeters) with semaglutide. In addition, nearly 32 per cent of people taking Zepbound lost at least a quarter of their body weight, compared to about 16 per cent of those taking Wegovy, the study found. Story continues below advertisement Weight loss was about six per cent 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 six per cent of participants taking Zepbound left the trial because of adverse events, compared with eight per cent of those taking semaglutide. 1:38 Wegovy weight loss benefits sustained in longest medical trial to date The GLP-1 drugs have become increasingly popular, with at least one in eight 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). Story continues below advertisement 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 per cent, 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.
12-05-2025
- Health
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. ___
