Tirzepatide and Obesity: Trial Results and Who Qualifies
In SURMOUNT-1, people on tirzepatide 15 mg weekly lost 20.9% of their body weight on average, against 3.1% on placebo.
- Average loss, top dose
- 20.9%
- Trial
- SURMOUNT-1
- Placebo
- 3.1%
A quick look at Zepbound
The half-life is 5 to 6 days. At 5.5 d, half has left your body. Five half-lives equal 27.5 d, when about 3% remains.
Across 72 weeks in SURMOUNT-1, body weight fell by 20.9%, while the placebo group fell by 3.1%.
The maker's price page lists monthly price points in US dollars for the list price and self-pay offers.
Sources: FDA label (DailyMed), Eli Lilly 1 2, cnbc.com.
Trial Results
| Trial | Dose group | Average weight lost | Placebo or comparison | Weeks | Who was in it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 5 mg weekly | 15% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 19.5% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-1 | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 20.9% | 3.1% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Tirzepatide 10 mg weekly | 12.8% | 3.2% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-2 | Tirzepatide 15 mg weekly | 14.7% | 3.2% | 72 | Adults with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Tirzepatide 10 or 15 mg weekly (Zepbound) | 20.2% | semaglutide (Wegovy) | 72 | Adults with obesity, without type 2 diabetes |
Research citations: SURMOUNT-1 (FDA label (DailyMed)), SURMOUNT-2 (PubMed), and SURMOUNT-5 (PubMed).
Which GLP-1s are approved for weight?
| Medicine | Approved use (label) |
|---|---|
 Wegovy | For adults with heart disease who also have obesity or are overweight, it lowers the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart-related death (injection and tablets). |
 Zepbound | Used with diet and activity, it helps with weight loss and keeping weight off over the long term. The medicine is for adults with obesity, or for overweight adults who have a weight-related condition. |
 Foundayo | Used with diet and activity, it helps with weight loss and keeping weight off over the long term. The medicine is for adults with obesity, or for overweight adults who have a weight-related condition. |
 Saxenda | Along with diet and activity, this medicine aids weight loss and supports long-term weight maintenance. It applies to adults and children 12 and older with obesity who weigh more than 60 kg. It also applies to overweight adults who have a weight-related condition. |
Source: FDA label (DailyMed).