An average weight loss of over 20%! Tirzepatide: a dual strategy of lowering blood sugar and reducing weight

Tirzepatide is a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, whose molecular structure has been specially modified to have a longer half-life and stronger receptor affinity. This unique structure enables Tirzepatide to simultaneously activate GIP and GLP-1 receptors, thereby exerting a synergistic effect on weight loss and blood sugar reduction. GIP (glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide-1) are two important intestinal insulinotropic hormones that play important roles in regulating blood glucose, energy metabolism, and weight. The dual excitatory effect of tilboptin may lead to more comprehensive metabolic improvements.

In China, tilpotide obtained indications for glycemic control and weight management in May and July 2024, respectively. On January 2, 2025, the drug was officially launched in China under the brand name Mufengda.

The purpose of this article is to provide a reference basis by analyzing the weight loss and blood sugar lowering effects of tilpotide.

Weight loss: With an average weight loss of over 20%, you can easily achieve your ideal body shape

The SURBOUNT-1 study of Tirzepatide lasted for three years. Data show that compared with placebo, tilporide (10mg and 15mg) has a significant effect on obese or overweight pre diabetes patients. At week 176, the average weight of the patients decreased by 15.4% (5mg), 19.9% (10mg), and 22.9% (15mg), respectively, while the placebo group only experienced a 2.1% reduction. After 17 weeks of drug withdrawal, the patient's weight began to rise, and the risk of type 2 diabetes increased. However, Tilpolide reduced the risk of diabetes progression by 88% compared with placebo.

Hypoglycemia: Improving insulin resistance and stabilizing blood sugar control

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a global chronic metabolic disease, and its prevalence has risen rapidly in the past decades. According to the International diabetes Federation (IDF), there are about 463 million adults worldwide with diabetes, of which more than 90% are type 2 diabetes. T2DM not only leads to elevated blood sugar levels, but also often accompanies various metabolic disorders such as obesity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, significantly increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and microvascular complications.

The benefits of dual targets

Tirzepatide surpasses semaglutide in weight loss and blood sugar lowering effects, thanks to its dual target mechanism.

GIP (gastric inhibitory peptide) is a peptide hormone secreted by intestinal K cells, and together with GLP-1 (glucagon like peptide-1), it is called enteropancreatin. Intestinal glucagon helps to eliminate approximately 80% of glucose absorbed in the diet by stimulating insulin secretion. For patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), the function of incretin is almost completely lost, so restoring this function is crucial for the treatment of diabetes. Recent studies have shown that GIP plays the most important role in enteropancreatin. After oral administration of glucose, approximately 44% of insulin secretion is stimulated by GIP, while GLP-1 accounts for only 22%.