2023-11-10 15:26:41
Zepbound is the name of the new drug. | AFP Photo / Eli Lilly.
The Food and Drug Administration of the United States (FDA for its acronym in English) approved a new drug for weight loss and chronic weight control in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol.
Its about Zepboundfrom the American group Eli Lillywhose active ingredient is tirzepatida, which along with diet and exercise also help improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
“Obesity and overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with some of the main causes of death, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. In light of the rising rates of obesity and overweight in the United States, today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need,” said John Sharretts, director of the Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders and Obesity at the FDA.
It is expected to be available in the United States in a few weeks, joining medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy, both from the Novo Nordisk laboratory. Analysts predict it will become a bestseller.
Tirzepatide makes you lose up to 20 kilos less
The effectiveness of Zepbound for chronic weight management, weight reduction and maintenance, in combination with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity was established in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials in obese or overweight adults with at least one related condition.
These studies measured weight loss after 72 weeks in a total of 2,519 patients who received 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg of Zepbound once a week and a total of 958 patients who received placebo injections once a week.
In both trials, after 72 weeks of treatment, patients receiving Zepbound at all three dose levels experienced a statistically significant reduction in body weight compared to those receiving placebo, and a greater proportion of patients receiving Zepbound They achieved at least a 5% weight reduction compared to placebo.
The results showed that the patients analyzed lost 22 kilos on average when taking the highest dose allowed, while with the lowest dose they lost just over 15 kilos. Under placebo effects, it was three kilos. At the beginning of the trial, the average weight of the participants was 104 kilos.
How does the new anti-obesity drug work?
Zepbound is administered by injection under the skin once a week and the dose should be increased over a period of four to 20 weeks to reach target doses of 5 milligrams (mg), 10 mg, or 15 mg once a week. The maximum dose of Zepbound It is 15 mg once a week.
What this medication does is activate the hormone receptors secreted by the intestine to reduce appetite and food intake.
It is indicated for obese or overweight patients who suffer from at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol.
Side effects
According to FDA, Zepbound can cause side effects such as:
NauseaDiarrheaVomitingConstipationDiscomfortAbdominal (stomach) painInjection site reactionsFatigueHypersensitivity reactionsBurpingHair lossGastroesophageal reflux disease.
Furthermore, health authorities warned that Zepbound It causes thyroid C cell tumors in rats and it is unknown if it has the same effect in humans. And he highlighted that this new drug authorized for obesity should not be used in patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer nor in patients with multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2.
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