This effective drug against diabetes helps fight obesity

The American pharmaceutical group Eli Lilly published Thursday the results of a new clinical trial confirming that its molecule tirzepatide, for the moment approved in the United States against diabetes only, helped in weight loss.

These results pave the way for a possible future authorization of this drug by the American Medicines Agency (FDA) specifically for obese people.

The study was conducted on just over 900 participants who were overweight or obese and had type 2 diabetes (the most common). The drug is taken once a week as an injection.

People who received the highest dosage lost an average of 15.6 pounds (15.7% body mass reduction) over about a year and a half (72 weeks).

Side effects were usually gastrointestinal problems (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting…).