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Research summary

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Tirzepatide

Clinical10 studies

Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist investigated for its role in metabolic and appetite-related signaling pathways.

Being studied for

  • Dual incretin receptor signaling
  • Metabolic efficiency research
  • Appetite and satiety modulation

Published Research

Evidence profile

Human Phase 3 evidence

10 cited publications · 9 primary trials

Findings below belong to the studies that reported them. They describe the material and conditions those authors used, not this product, and not an outcome to expect.

Core evidence

The publications most central to understanding this compound.

ClinicalPhase 3 randomised, open-label, active-controlled trial

SURMOUNT-5

Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity

Aronne LJ et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2025

Population: Adults with obesity, without diabetes

A direct comparison against semaglutide 2.4 mg over 72 weeks, with percent change in weight as the primary endpoint.

Route reported
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Once weekly under the trial protocol
Duration
72 weeks
Treatment arms
Tirzepatide, maximum tolerated dose · Semaglutide 2.4 mg
Primary endpoint result
Among participants with obesity but without diabetes, treatment with tirzepatide was superior to treatment with semaglutide with respect to reduction in body weight and waist circumference at week 72.

Context: Open-label. Both arms used authorised pharmaceutical products.

PMID 40353578DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2416394NCT05822830View on PubMed
ClinicalPhase 3 randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

SURMOUNT-1

Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity

Jastreboff AM et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2022

Population: Adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related complication, without diabetes

The pivotal obesity trial of the tirzepatide programme. Participants were randomised to one of three tirzepatide doses or placebo and followed for 72 weeks, with percentage change in weight and the proportion reaching a 5% reduction as coprimary endpoints.

Route reported
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Once weekly under the trial protocol
Duration
72 weeks
Treatment arms
5 mg · 10 mg · 15 mg · Placebo
Mean percentage change in weight at week 72
The mean percentage change in weight at week 72 was -15.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], -15.9 to -14.2) with 5-mg weekly doses of tirzepatide, -19.5% (95% CI, -20.4 to -18.5) with 10-mg doses, and -20.9% (95% CI, -21.8 to -19.9) with 15-mg doses and -3.1% (95% CI, -4.3 to -1.9) with placebo (P<0.001 for all comparisons with placebo).

Context: Participants with diabetes were excluded, so the result does not describe that population. The material studied was the manufacturer's pharmaceutical formulation.

PMID 35658024DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038NCT04184622View on PubMed
ClinicalPhase 3 randomised, open-label, active-controlled trial

SURPASS-2

Tirzepatide versus Semaglutide Once Weekly in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Frías JP et al. · The New England journal of medicine · 2021

Population: Adults with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on metformin

An active-controlled comparison against semaglutide 1 mg over 40 weeks, with change in glycated haemoglobin as the primary endpoint.

Route reported
Subcutaneous
Schedule
Once weekly under the trial protocol
Duration
40 weeks
Treatment arms
Tirzepatide 5 mg · Tirzepatide 10 mg · Tirzepatide 15 mg · Semaglutide 1 mg
Primary endpoint result
Tirzepatide at all doses was noninferior and superior to semaglutide.

Context: Open-label, against a single comparator dose of semaglutide, which constrains how the comparison generalises.

PMID 34170647DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2107519NCT03987919View on PubMed
PreclinicalIn-vitro receptor pharmacology

Tirzepatide is an imbalanced and biased dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist

Willard FS et al. · JCI insight · 2020

Population: Recombinant cell systems and primary islets

Characterises tirzepatide at the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, reporting an imbalanced, biased agonist profile rather than equal activity at the two receptors.

Context: In-vitro work. It explains receptor behaviour and does not establish a clinical effect.

PMID 32730231DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.140532View on PubMed

Supporting evidence

ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

Tirzepatide for maintenance of bodyweight reduction in people with obesity in the USA (SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial

Horn DB et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2026

The study reportedIn adults with obesity, long-term treatment is often necessary to maintain bodyweight reduction and its associated cardiometabolic benefits. In the SURMOUNT-MAINTAIN trial, continuing tirzepatide at MTD maintained bodyweight reduction and health-related benefits.

PMID 42119587DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00656-2NCT06047548View on PubMed
ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

Efficacy and safety of tirzepatide in children and adolescents with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-PEDS): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial

Hannon TS et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2025

The study reportedTirzepatide demonstrated significant improvements in glycaemic control and BMI compared with placebo. These effects were sustained over 1 year.

PMID 40975112DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01774-XNCT05260021View on PubMed
ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

Efficacy and safety of once-weekly tirzepatide in Japanese patients with obesity disease (SURMOUNT-J): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial

Kadowaki T et al. · The lancet. Diabetes & endocrinology · 2025

The study reportedIn Japanese adults with obesity disease, tirzepatide provided clinically a meaningful reduction in bodyweight compared with placebo over 72 weeks, with a safety profile consistent with that observed in global populations.

PMID 40031941DOI 10.1016/S2213-8587(24)00377-2NCT04844918View on PubMed
ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

Tirzepatide vs Insulin Lispro Added to Basal Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes: The SURPASS-6 Randomized Clinical Trial

Rosenstock J et al. · JAMA · 2023

The study reportedIn people with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes treated with basal insulin, weekly tirzepatide compared with prandial insulin as an additional treatment with insulin glargine demonstrated reductions in HbA1c and body weight with less hypoglycemia.

PMID 37786396DOI 10.1001/jama.2023.20294NCT04537923View on PubMed
ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

SURPASS-5

Effect of Subcutaneous Tirzepatide vs Placebo Added to Titrated Insulin Glargine on Glycemic Control in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The SURPASS-5 Randomized Clinical Trial

Dahl D et al. · JAMA · 2022

The study reportedAmong patients with type 2 diabetes and inadequate glycemic control despite treatment with insulin glargine, the addition of subcutaneous tirzepatide, compared with placebo, to titrated insulin glargine resulted in statistically significant improvements in glycemic control after 40 weeks.

PMID 35133415DOI 10.1001/jama.2022.0078NCT04039503View on PubMed
ClinicalPrimary trial · Phase 3

SURPASS-1

Efficacy and safety of a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide in patients with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-1): a double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial

Rosenstock J et al. · Lancet (London, England) · 2021

The study reportedTirzepatide showed robust improvements in glycaemic control and bodyweight, without increased risk of hypoglycaemia. The safety profile was consistent with GLP-1 receptor agonists, indicating a potential monotherapy use of tirzepatide for type 2 diabetes treatment.

PMID 34186022DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(21)01324-6NCT03954834View on PubMed

Published studies summarised here concern the specific investigational or pharmaceutical materials and study conditions described by their authors. Their findings are not performance claims for Cobalt Peptides material. Citations verified against PubMed on 2026-08-09.

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