The takeaway
Tirzepatide produced greater average weight loss than dulaglutide in SURPASS J-mono. The comparison used a specific dulaglutide dose and enrolled people with type 2 diabetes.
Who took part?
The trial randomized 636 adults in Japan to weekly tirzepatide 5, 10, or 15 mg, or dulaglutide 0.75 mg, for 52 weeks. Treatment assignments were masked. About three-quarters of participants were men.
Blood sugar was the main outcome; weight was also measured.
Kilograms lost; weekly study doses
Original visual based on the study.
| Group or measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Tirzepatide 5 mg | 5.8 kg |
| Tirzepatide 10 mg | 8.5 kg |
| Tirzepatide 15 mg | 10.7 kg |
| Dulaglutide 0.75 mg | 0.5 kg |
What changed?
Average weight loss was:
5.8 kg with tirzepatide 5 mg.
8.5 kg with tirzepatide 10 mg.
10.7 kg with tirzepatide 15 mg.
0.5 kg with dulaglutide 0.75 mg.
Tirzepatide also lowered average HbA1c more than the comparator.
What were the trade-offs?
Nausea affected 12–20% across tirzepatide groups versus 8% with dulaglutide. Constipation was also common.
These findings do not compare tirzepatide with every dulaglutide dose or establish the same results in people without diabetes. The study doses describe the research, not a personal treatment plan.
Eli Lilly funded the trial.
Sources
Inagaki and colleagues, The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 2022; correction.