A new weight loss drug that has helped patients lose up to 2.5 stone could be coming to the UK.
The results of an 18-month trial of tirzepatide, a weekly injection medication, has seen participants shed up to 15.7 percent of their body weight - a loss of 15.6kg or 2.5 stone. Patients given a placebo comparatively lost an average of 3.2kg.
Tirzepatide is set to be available in the UK, reports The Times. Its manufacturer Eli Lilly will seek approval from regulators for the medication to be used on obese patients with a weight-related condition such as obesity and diabetes.
Eli Lilly published the results of a phase three trial on Thursday that evaluated 938 adult participants with obesity or overweight and type 2 diabetes.
Participants taking tirzepatide lost an average 13.4 percent of their bodyweight (13.5kg) on a 10mg dosage. On a 15mg dosage, they lost an average of 15.7 percent of their bodyweight (15.6 kg) compared to a placebo (3.3 percent or 3.2 kg).
The news comes a month after the NHS approved semaglutide, a weight loss drug also known as Ozempic and Wegovy. Both tirzepatide and semaglutide mimic a hormone called GLP-1 that suppresses the appetite.
Tirzepatide has been licensed as a diabetes medication in the US since May 2022. Sold under the brand name Mounjaro, it is used to treat diabetes to improve glucose - the body's blood sugar levels. GLP-1 promotes the feeling of fullness, according to PrivateDoc.
"Obesity is a difficult-to-manage disease, and it's even more difficult for people living with type 2 diabetes," said Dr Jeff Emmick, Lilly's senior vice president of product development.
Dr Kunal Gulati, Lilly executive director diabetes medical affairs, added: "Preventing obesity is a key focus but it’s also vitally important that we continue to develop future treatments for obesity."
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