A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine compared the weight loss outcomes of Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic by analyzing the electronic health records of over 18,000 US patients from May 2022 to September 2023. The study found that patients taking Mounjaro experienced significantly greater weight loss than those on Ozempic.
The average age of participants was 52, with more than 70% being female and an average baseline weight of 110 kilograms (242 lbs). Additionally, 52% of the participants had type 2 diabetes. While most patients achieved at least a five percent weight loss after a year, those on Mounjaro were more likely to reach this goal and beyond.
Specifically, nearly 82% of patients in the Mounjaro group achieved at least a five percent weight loss, compared to 67% in the Ozempic group. For a ten percent or greater weight loss, the results were 62% for Mounjaro versus 37% for Ozempic.
Furthermore, 42% of patients on Mounjaro achieved a fifteen percent or greater weight loss compared to 18% on Ozempic. On average, after 12 months, patients on Mounjaro lost seven percent more weight than those on Ozempic.
The study reported no significant differences in adverse event rates between the two groups, though both had common instances of drug discontinuation.
As reported by msn.com, Ozempic was approved in the US in 2017, while Mounjaro received approval in 2022. Obesity, a global health issue, increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and complications from diseases like Covid-19. It poses a significant challenge to treat and places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. While obesity can result from lifestyle factors, genetics also play a significant role.