Details in the first 3-stage test from start to first give a complete picture of how Zepbound is advantageous on Wegovy
Eli Lilly has released preliminary data showing its obesity medication, Zepbound, in Wegovy at Novo Novo Novo Novo Nordisk, a measure of weight loss in head-to-head clinical trials. More detailed results, including key secondary measures of the third phase study, provide a deeper understanding of the comparison, including key measures analysts say helping to give Eli Lilly’s products a competitive advantage.
In preliminary results, Zepbound 72 weeks of treatment resulted in an average loss of 20.2% of patients in the Wegovy department, while the average loss of 13.7% was met by the primary goal of the Phase 3B study, Lilly reported in late 2024. In late 2024, other data from the Phase 3B study presented the European Obesity Conference at the European Obesity Conference and the new medical journal at the European Obesity Conference.
Lilly said how many patients lost at least 10% of their weight, 81.6% of participants treated with Zepbough reached that secondary endpoint, while those treated with Wegovy reached 40.1%. In this study, Lilly drug stood out among three other weight-reducing targets (Surmount-5). At the fifth secondary end point of measuring waist circumference changes, the Zepbough group decreased by 18.4 cm (approximately 7.2 inches), while the Wegovy Arm averaged 13 cm (approximately 5.1 inches).
“In the SURMOUNT-5 trial, Zepbough lost significantly higher weight compared to Wegovy in all comparisons,” said Leonard Glass, senior vice president of global medical affairs at Lilly, in a prepared statement. “These data confirm that Zepbough is the leading treatment option for obese people and provide important insights for healthcare providers to make informed treatment decisions as part of a comprehensive obesity care program.”
The main drug ingredient in Zepbough is Tirzepatide, an engineered peptide designed to bind and activate GLP-1 and GIP receptors to stimulate satiety. In contrast, Semaglutide, the main component in Wegovy, only activates the GLP-1 receptor. GI side effects are common in these metabolic drugs categories.
Lily said that drug-reported gastrointestinal complications reported in the head-to-head study were classified as mild to moderate severity, although 6.1% of people in Zepbabound Arm due to adverse events stopped treatment. By comparison, 8.0% of participants interrupted Wegovy Arm. Eli Lilly added that the study was not used to compare safety and tolerability between the two drugs.
Tolerance is one of the key comparative measures that Lilly lacks when publishing preliminary data late last year. For David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, the details of the measure’s release now are Eli Lilly’s welcome news. The rates of nausea, constipation, diarrhea and vomiting are similar in both drugs. The greater tolerance of weight loss and tolerability at Zepbound demonstrates the superior benefit-risk ratio of Lily’s drug, Risinger wrote in a note sent to investors on Monday.
The positive Surmount-5 study recruited 751 obese participants as well as comorbid hypertension, dyslipidemia, obstructive sleep apnea or cardiovascular disease. These participants had no diabetes. Those who completed this clinical trial are conducting an extended study that could support the use of Eli Lilly’s experimental oral medication or fogrisone as oral maintenance treatment.
Participants who continued the extended study were randomly assigned to receive an experimental oral GLP-1 drug from Eli Lilly, or Forglipron or placebo. The main goal of the 52-week study was to evaluate Orforglipron’s ability to maintain weight loss after first treatment with a weekly injectable zepbound. The study will evaluate approximately 300 patients by January 2026.
Orforglipron is an oral small molecule designed to activate the GLP-1 receptor. Last month, Lilly reported preliminary Phase 3 results from Orforglipron, showing statistically significant reductions in blood sugar and weight in patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on these results, Eli Lilly said it is preparing to submit a regulatory submission for the drug in weight management and type 2 diabetes.
Photographer Eli Lilly
