GLP-1 drugs are reshaping the way Americans look at weight loss now that the FDA has approved a few of them to help battle obesity. Now, a new study is shedding light on two of the most popular drugs people turn to to help them shed pounds.
In the first head-to-head randomized clinical trial of these drugs, researchers compared results from Eli Lilly’s Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy. It is important to note Eli Lilly funded the study.
Previous studies have shown Zepbound helped people lose more weight than Wegovy. That said, they’re not considered true comparisons of the drugs because the results were based on preexisting data.
This new trial had people who were overweight or obese use the drugs once a week for 72 weeks. The study found that those injected with Zepbound lost 20.2% of their body weight, or 50.3 pounds on average. Those injected with Wegovy lost an average of 13.7% of their body weight, or 33.1 pounds.
Eli Lilly says that means Zepbound is nearly twice as effective as Wegovy. Doctors say that despite the difference in results, both drugs are still highly effective at helping people lose weight.
In a statement, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson noted Wegovy had been linked to a reduced risk of heart issues like heart attack and stroke.
Another thing to note is that aside from their names, Zepbound and Wegovy are also different in their active ingredients. Zepbound uses tirzepatide to help you lose weight, while Wegovy is a semaglutide injection.
Both target GLP-1 receptors to make you feel less hungry. Still, unlike semaglutide, tirzepatide also targets GIP receptors, which reduces a person’s appetite more than just a GLP-1 drug alone.
