Pharma major Eli Lilly claims its weight loss drug reduces cardiovascular risks in Type 2 diabetes patients

Pharma major Eli Lilly today said that it’s weight loss drug Mounjaro has helped in reducing cardiovascular risks in patients with Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

According to the results of the trial which included over 13,000 patients across 30 countries, including India, 16 % reduction in all-cause mortality was seen, 8% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death, reinforcing its potential as a breakthrough therapy for Indians living with type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

“Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) has shown superior cardiovascular protection over Trulicity in the landmark SURPASS-CVOT global trial,” it said in a statement.


The trial also demonstrated significant improvements in A1C (-1.73%) and weight loss (-11.43 kg) for Mounjaro. A1C is a biomarker for Type 2 diabetes.

Mounjaro (tirzepatide), a GIP/GLP-1 dual receptor agonist, was compared to Trulicity (dulaglutide), a GLP-1 receptor agonist that showed a definitive cardiovascular benefit in the REWIND study.

“In SURPASS-CVOT, Mounjaro achieved the primary objective by demonstrating a non-inferior rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE- 3), including cardiovascular death, heart attack or stroke vs. Trulicity. In addition, Mounjaro showed improvements on key measures of A1C, weight, renal function and all-cause mortality,” it further said.

The trial lasted more than four and a half years and is the largest and longest study of tirzepatide to date.

“Cardiovascular disease continues to be the leading cause of death among individuals with type 2 diabetes,” said Winselow Tucker, President and General Manager, Eli Lilly and Company (India). “The SURPASS-CVOT trials highlight that Mounjaro maintains the cardioprotective effects seen with Trulicity, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while offering additional advantages such as a slower eGFR decline and a lower mortality rate. These results further support Mounjaro’s potential as a front-line therapy for people managing both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular conditions."

Doctors say the results of the study will help the company secure label expansions to reduce the risk of cardiovascular issues.

The heart-helping benefits of GLP-1 drugs have been well established. Earlier in 2020, lilly’s rival Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic was approved to reduce cardiovascular risks in Type 2 diabetes patients by the FDA.

Lilly said that it will submit the results to the global regulatory authorities by the end of this year. In September, the company will present detailed data from the trial at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes annual meeting in Vienna.