The battle of the bulge is heating up in the pharmaceutical industry, with a new study revealing a clear winner in the weight loss race between two injectable GLP-1 receptor agonists: Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic (semaglutide).
Published in the prestigious JAMA Internal Medicine journal, the study analyzed electronic health records of over 18,000 patients in the United States who received either Mounjaro or Ozempic between May 2022 and September 2023. The findings paint a compelling picture for Mounjaro’s superior weight loss efficacy.
Mounjaro Delivers Superior Weight Loss Results
The head-to-head analysis showed that patients on Mounjaro achieved significantly greater weight loss compared to those on Ozempic. Here’s a breakdown of the key results:
- Overall Weight Loss: Nearly 82% of the Mounjaro group achieved at least 5% weight loss after one year, compared to 67% in the Ozempic group.
- Greater Weight Loss: For those seeking significant weight loss, Mounjaro again came out on top. 62% of the Mounjaro group achieved at least 10% weight loss compared to only 37% in the Ozempic group. The trend continued for even greater weight loss benchmarks, with 42% of the Mounjaro group achieving at least 15% weight loss compared to just 18% on Ozempic.
- Average Weight Loss: At the end of the 12-month study period, the average patient on Mounjaro lost a remarkable 7% more weight than the average Ozempic patient.
These findings align with the results observed in Mounjaro’s clinical trials, but this marks the first time the two drugs have been directly compared in a real-world setting.
Safety Profiles Similar Across Both Drugs
The study did not reveal any significant differences in the rates of adverse events between the two groups. It’s important to note, however, that discontinuation of the drugs was common in both cohorts. As with all medications, GLP-1 analogs can cause side effects such as indigestion, dizziness, and mildly elevated heart rate. Severe but rare events include bowel obstruction and pancreatitis.
On the positive side, GLP-1 analogs have been shown to reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Emerging evidence also suggests potential benefits against certain obesity-related cancers, including those of the kidney, pancreas, esophagus, ovaries, liver, and colon.
Mounjaro vs. Ozempic: A New Era in Weight Management?
Ozempic, approved in the US in 2017, has become a blockbuster drug for Novo Nordisk. Mounjaro, following its approval in 2022, is now poised to challenge that dominance.
This head-to-head study highlights Mounjaro’s superior weight loss efficacy, potentially ushering in a new era in the treatment of obesity, a global health crisis with significant healthcare costs. While the primary causes of obesity can be lifestyle-related, genetics also play a role. The success of drugs like Mounjaro offers new hope for a more effective approach to managing this complex condition.
