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Clinical Trial
. 2023 Aug 19;402(10402):613-626.
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(23)01200-X. Epub 2023 Jun 26.

Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2): a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

W Timothy Garvey  1 , Juan P Frias  2 , Ania M Jastreboff  3 , Carel W le Roux  4 , Naveed Sattar  5 , Diego Aizenberg  6 , Huzhang Mao  7 , Shuyu Zhang  7 , Nadia N Ahmad  7 , Mathijs C Bunck  7 , Imane Benabbad  7 , Xiaotian M Zhang  7 ; SURMOUNT-2 investigators
Collaborators, Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity in people with type 2 diabetes (SURMOUNT-2): a double-blind, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

W Timothy Garvey et al. Lancet. .

Abstract

Background: Weight reduction is essential for improving health outcomes in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. We assessed the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide, a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, versus placebo, for weight management in people living with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: This phase 3, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in seven countries. Adults (aged ≥18 years) with a body-mass index (BMI) of 27 kg/m2 or higher and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7-10% (53-86 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned (1:1:1), using a computer-generated random sequence via a validated interactive web-response system, to receive either once-weekly, subcutaneous tirzepatide (10 mg or 15 mg) or placebo for 72 weeks. All participants, investigators, and the sponsor were masked to treatment assignment. Coprimary endpoints were the percent change in bodyweight from baseline and bodyweight reduction of 5% or higher. The treatment-regimen estimand assessed effects regardless of treatment discontinuation or initiation of antihyperglycaemic rescue therapy. Efficacy and safety endpoints were analysed with data from all randomly assigned participants (intention-to-treat population). This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04657003.

Findings: Between March 29, 2021, and April 10, 2023, of 1514 adults assessed for eligibility, 938 (mean age 54·2 years [SD 10·6], 476 [51%] were female, 710 [76%] were White, and 561 [60%] were Hispanic or Latino) were randomly assigned and received at least one dose of tirzepatide 10 mg (n=312), tirzepatide 15 mg (n=311), or placebo (n=315). Baseline mean bodyweight was 100·7 kg (SD 21·1), BMI 36·1 kg/m2 (SD 6·6), and HbA1c 8·02% (SD 0·89; 64·1 mmol/mol [SD 9·7]). Least-squares mean change in bodyweight at week 72 with tirzepatide 10 mg and 15 mg was -12·8% (SE 0·6) and -14·7% (0·5), respectively, and -3·2% (0·5) with placebo, resulting in estimated treatment differences versus placebo of -9·6% percentage points (95% CI -11·1 to -8·1) with tirzepatide 10 mg and -11·6% percentage points (-13·0 to -10·1) with tirzepatide 15 mg (all p<0·0001). More participants treated with tirzepatide versus placebo met bodyweight reduction thresholds of 5% or higher (79-83% vs 32%). The most frequent adverse events with tirzepatide were gastrointestinal-related, including nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting and were mostly mild to moderate in severity, with few events leading to treatment discontinuation (<5%). Serious adverse events were reported by 68 (7%) participants overall and two deaths occurred in the tirzepatide 10 mg group, but deaths were not considered to be related to the study treatment by the investigator.

Interpretation: In this 72-week trial in adults living with obesity and type 2 diabetes, once-weekly tirzepatide 10 mg and 15 mg provided substantial and clinically meaningful reduction in bodyweight, with a safety profile that was similar to other incretin-based therapies for weight management.

Funding: Eli Lilly and Company.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests WTG has served as a consultant on advisory boards for Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Fractyl Health, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inogen, and Merck, and as a site principal investigator for multicentred clinical trials sponsored by his university and funded by Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Epitomee, Neurovalens, and Pfizer. JPF has received research funding (paid to his institution) from Akero, AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, 89bio, Eli Lilly and Company, Intercept, IONIS, Janssen, Madrigal, Metacrine, Merck, NorthSea Therapeutics, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Oramed, Pfizer, Poxel, and Sanofi; has received consulting fees from Akero, Altimmune, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot Therapeutics, Echosens, 89bio, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi; has received speaker bureau honoraria from Eli Lilly and Company and travel support for attending meetings from Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi; has served on advisory boards for Altimmune, Becton Dickenson, Boehringer Ingelheim, Carmot Therapeutics, Eli Lilly and Company, Gilead, Intercept, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi; and has served on the board of directors for T1D Exchange. AMJ reports grants or contracts (through her institution) from Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Rhythm Pharmaceutical, and National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; consults for Amgen and Scholar Rock; has received honoraria or travel support from Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, and WeightWatchers, and stock options from Intellihealth; and serves on advisory boards for AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Biohaven, Eli Lilly and Company, Intellihealth, Novo Nordisk, Rhythm Pharmaceuticals, Structure Therapeutics, Terns Pharmaceutics, and WeightWatchers. CWlR reports grants from the Irish Research Council, Science Foundation Ireland, Anabio, and the Health Research Board. He serves on advisory boards and speakers’ panels of Novo Nordisk, Herbalife, GI Dynamics, Eli Lilly and Company, Johnson & Johnson, Glia, Irish Life Health, and Boehringer Ingelheim; is a member of the Irish Society for Nutrition and Metabolism outside the area of work commented on here; was the chief medical officer and director of the Medical Device Division of Keyron in 2021 (both unremunerated positions); is a previous investor in Keyron; was gifted stock holdings and divested all stock holdings in Keyron in September, 2021; continues to provide scientific advice to Keyron for no remuneration; and provides obesity clinical care in the Beyond BMI clinic and is a shareholder. NS has received grants and personal fees from AstraZeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Novartis; a grant from Roche Diagnostics; and personal fees from Abbott Laboratories, Afimmune, Amgen, Eli Lilly and Company, Hanmi Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, and Sanofi, outside of the submitted work. SZ, HM, NNA, MCB, IB, and XMZ are employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company.

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