Eli Lilly GLP-1R/GIPR dual agonist 'Tirzepatide' new indication declared for market launch

On November 22, 2024, the official website of the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) announced that the new indication application for Eli Lilly's dual agonist of glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor, tirzepatide injection, has been accepted.

In May 2022, Tirzepatide was approved by FDA for the first time to be marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In May this year, Tirzepatide was approved for the first time in China for use in adult type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients with poorly controlled blood sugar who received metformin and/or sulfonylurea drugs on the basis of diet control and exercise. In July of this year, Tirzepatide was approved as a new indication in China for long-term weight management in adults with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 28 kg/m2 (obesity) or ≥ 24 kg/m2 (overweight) and at least one weight related complication (such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, etc.), based on controlled diet and increased exercise. About Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a dual agonist of glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor, which can simultaneously activate GLP-1 receptor and GIP receptor-mediated signaling pathways. GIP and GLP-1 are natural intestinal insulinotropic hormones that regulate blood sugar. Tirzepatide was approved by the US FDA (trade name: Mounjaro) in May 2022 for use in combination with diet control and exercise to improve the blood sugar control of adult type 2 diabetes patients. Last November,Tirzepatide received FDA approval again (trade name: Zepbound) for the purpose of reducing weight and maintaining weight stability in obese or overweight adult patients.

Eli Lilly and Company is a globally leading pharmaceutical company engaged in drug research and development, production, and sales, committed to improving human health through innovation. Eli Lilly was founded over a century ago by Colonel Eli Lilly in Indiana, USA in 1876. The company's founder was dedicated to producing high-quality drugs to meet practical medical needs.