2023-09-17 13:11:22
A new drug has been approved to treat type 2 diabetes in the UK.
Tirzepatide (sold under the brand name Mounjaro) might be available by prescription by early 2024.
Monjaro is an injectable treatment that helps the body control the level of glucose in the blood (sugars) following meals and regulate appetite. Research conducted on the drug has shown that it is more effective in controlling blood sugar and leads to greater weight loss compared to type 2 diabetes medications currently available for prescription, according to the “Science Alert” scientific website.
Tirzepatide is derived from a protein with a similar structure to the hormone GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide), which stimulates insulin release. But what’s special regarding tirzepatide is that it binds to the receptor for another hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), which also releases insulin. This makes tirzepatide the first “dual hormone agonist” (drug that binds to and activates a hormone receptor) to be approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide (sold under the brand name Ozempic) targets GLP-1 only.
Regarding how it works, the hormones GLP-1 and GIP are produced by specialized cells in the large and small intestine, which they release in response to high levels of glucose in the blood following eating a meal. GLP-1 and GIP work on the pancreas to increase the production of the hormone insulin, which lowers the level of glucose in the blood. They also reduce glucagon production, which usually increases our glucose levels when they are too low.
A lack of ability to regulate glucose levels following meals is thought to be the cause of type 2 diabetes. GLP-1 also slows the speed of stomach emptying, making us feel full longer. When combined, all of these elements have great benefits in lowering blood sugar levels.
These effects have also been shown to lead to weight loss. The effects of GIP and GLP-1, which our body produces naturally, only last regarding two minutes. But tirzepatide has modified the structure of these hormones so that they break down more slowly and are longer-acting (lasting regarding five days); This means that tirzepatide only needs to be taken once a week.
How effective is Monjaro?
Since tirzepatide mimics the effects of two hormones, it may not be surprising that research trials found it to be more effective than semaglutide, which acts only on GLP-1.
In this context, a 40-week trial compared doses of 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg of tirizpatide with 1 mg of semaglutide. The trial found that all doses of tirzepatide were more effective than semaglutide in lowering average blood sugar levels; More than 80% of those treated with Tirzepatide achieved their glucose goals. (It is important to note here that the dose of medication is related to the amount effective, so dosage levels of different medications are not comparable.)
A separate year-long study also found that 15 mg of tirzepatide was as effective in controlling blood glucose levels as insulin.
Another benefit of tirzepatide for people with type 2 diabetes is that it supports weight loss. Research shows that those who took terzepatide for type 2 diabetes lost an average of 8.5% – 13% of their body weight, while those who took semaglutide lost regarding 7%.
About 80%-90% of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight or obese. Until recently, medications used to treat this disease did not result in weight loss, or were even associated with weight gain.
Drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, which lower blood glucose and promote weight loss at the same time, have transformed the approach to treating type 2 diabetes.
Weight loss can support the management of type 2 diabetes and can even lead to its recovery. This is because excess body weight, especially weight carried around the middle, can cause insulin to be less effective and produced in smaller amounts.
Tirzepatide can also be used safely alongside other diabetes medications (such as metformin) if diabetes control goals are not achieved.
Although there are no studies directly comparing terzepatide with semaglutide, these weight reductions are greater than those reported in studies using semaglutide.
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