A recent real-world study has revealed that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) outperforms Ozempic (semaglutide) in promoting weight loss among patients with obesity. This head-to-head comparison, the first of its kind using healthcare data, shows that individuals taking Mounjaro lost more weight faster than those on Ozempic.
Study Overview
Published in JAMA Internal Medicine, the study indicates that Mounjaro users were more successful in hitting significant weight-loss milestones. They not only shed more pounds overall but also did so at a quicker pace compared to those on Ozempic. Both medications belong to the glucagon-like peptide receptor agonists (GLP-1) class, which is utilized for treating type 2 diabetes and obesity. These drugs mimic natural hormones to control blood sugar and appetite, contributing to weight loss by slowing digestion and promoting feelings of fullness.
Comparative Results
Prior clinical trials had shown that Ozempic could lead to a weight loss of up to 16% of total body weight. However, Mounjaro demonstrated even more impressive outcomes, with some patients losing over 20% of their body weight. The study’s real-world data further solidify Mounjaro’s superior effectiveness.
According to Dr. Beverly Tchang, an endocrinologist and spokesperson for the Obesity Society, “This data is informative and reinforcing because it supports our experiences in real-world clinical practice — people lose more weight with tirzepatide than with semaglutide.”
Weight-Loss Milestones
The study found that over a one-year period, patients on tirzepatide were more than twice as likely to achieve a weight loss of 10% or greater and three times as likely to achieve a weight loss of 15% or greater compared to those on semaglutide. Weight loss was notably greater at various intervals: at three months, tirzepatide users experienced an average weight loss of 5.9% compared to semaglutide’s 3.6%. By the end of the year, tirzepatide patients had lost more than 15% of their body weight, while those on semaglutide lost around 8%.
Dr. Ty Gluckman, Medical Director at the Center for Cardiovascular Analytics, Research, and Data Science (CARDS) at Providence Heart Institute, emphasized the importance of this study: “Having the most timely data to inform patient care is paramount.”
Study Methodology
Researchers at Truveta, a healthcare data and analytics company, conducted the study using electronic health records and prescriber data from 30 health systems across the U.S. They identified adults with overweight or obesity who started taking either Ozempic or Mounjaro for the first time between May 2022 and September 2023. To be included, patients could not have previously been prescribed a GLP-1 drug. The study ultimately included over 40,000 patients, with a final cohort of 18,386 after matching similar individuals. The average age of participants was 52, with a demographic breakdown of 70% female and 77% white, including 12% Black and 2% Asian. More than half of the patients were living with type 2 diabetes.
Safety Profile
In terms of safety, the study noted that both drugs had similar rates of adverse gastrointestinal events, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Serious complications, including bowel obstruction and pancreatitis, were also observed at similar rates. Dr. Tricia Rodriguez, the lead author of the paper, stated, “We didn’t find a difference in the rates of moderate to severe gastrointestinal adverse events between the two medications.”
Additional Findings
The study also highlighted that weight loss was more pronounced in patients without type 2 diabetes. Moreover, over 50% of patients in both groups discontinued their medication within a year, possibly due to factors such as cost, accessibility, or side effects. The study calls for further research to understand the high discontinuation rates.
Conclusion
The real-world comparison indicates that Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is more effective than Ozempic (semaglutide) for weight loss, with patients on Mounjaro being significantly more likely to achieve substantial weight loss benchmarks. Both drugs showed similar safety profiles concerning gastrointestinal side effects.
