Eli Lilly's medication tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for weight loss, has shown promising results in improving symptoms of heart failure in obese patients, according to a recent company announcement.
This development adds to the growing evidence that GLP-1 receptor agonists, which also include Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, offer benefits beyond their primary uses for diabetes and weight management.
In a recent clinical trial, patients treated with tirzepatide experienced a 38% lower risk of hospitalization, increased heart failure medication needs, or death due to heart-related complications compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, patients reported reduced symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in the lower legs. The trial spanned 52 weeks.
These findings were released by Eli Lilly in a news release and have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed medical journal or reviewed by independent scientists.
Dr. Patricia Pellikka, the Betty Knight Scripps Professor of Cardiovascular Disease Clinical Research at the Mayo Clinic, commented on the results, stating, “For a long time, we’ve had rather limited therapies for these patients. This should be a very welcome tool for the toolbox.” Dr. Pellikka was not involved in Lilly's research.
Heart failure affects approximately 6.7 million adults in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2022, heart failure accounted for nearly 14% of deaths in the U.S.
“These drugs, while promoting weight loss, have also shown to improve heart failure symptoms, which is revolutionary in our field,” said Dr. Anu Lala, an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist at Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital in New York City. “They enhance the functional capacity and quality of life for heart failure patients.” Dr. Lala, who was not part of the study, is already prescribing these medications to her patients.
The study focused on patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), a condition that affects about half of all heart failure patients. In HFpEF, the heart's walls become stiff, making it harder for the heart to fill and pump blood effectively. Approximately 60% of patients with this condition also suffer from obesity, noted Dr. Jeff Emmick, senior vice president of product development at Eli Lilly.
While the exact mechanism by which tirzepatide benefits heart failure patients remains unclear, Dr. Emmick suggested it might be related to a reduction in fat accumulation around the heart. He also mentioned potential decreases in inflammation markers as another area of interest.
Earlier this year, Eli Lilly announced that tirzepatide had been shown to reduce sleep apnea in obese adults. The FDA has also expanded the approval for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy to include reducing heart disease risk. Additionally, Novo Nordisk has demonstrated that semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Wegovy and Ozempic, can lower the risk of kidney disease complications.