Tirzepatide Induces Weight Loss in participants with Type 2 Diabetes Regardless of Baseline BMI: A Post Hoc Analysis of SURPASS-1 through -5 Studies

Question Do the weight-lowering effects of tirzepatide (TZP) depend on baseline body mass index (BMI) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D)?

Methodology TZP (5, 10, 15mg) as monotherapy or in combination with oral glucose-lowering medications medications or insulin glargine were compared to placebo, semaglutide 1mg, insulin degludec, and insulin glargine with primary endpoint at 40 weeks or 52 weeks. Body weight change in the BMI subgroups (Subgroup 1 [< 27 or ≥ 27kg/m2] and Subgroup 2 [< 30; ≥ 30 to<35; ≥ 35kg/m2]) at primary endpoint was assessed in patients while on treatment without rescue medication (efficacy estimand) in the modified intention-to-treat population, defined as all randomized patients who received at least one dose of study drug.

Results All TZP doses (5, 10, 15mg) lowered body weight in patients with T2D irrespective of baseline BMI in both subgroups (p<0.001). The weight reductions were generally dose-dependent and absolute weight change was generally greater in higher BMI categories. The most frequent adverse events were gastrointestinal-related events that were generally mild to moderate in severity and occurred mostly during the dose-escalation period.

Conclusion TZP-treated patients with T2D experienced weight loss across a spectrum of mean baseline BMI values in SURPASS-1 through -5 studies.

Publication History

Article published online:
02 May 2023