Eli Lilly and Company's tirzepatide outpaced Novo Nordisk Pharma AG's blockbuster Ozempic (injectable semaglutide) in a Phase III study among type 2 diabetes patients on several endpoints, including reductions in A1C and weight loss, at all three doses, including an important low dose. The data could be critical to carving out a commercial opportunity for tirzepatide in the competitive market for type 2 diabetes drugs.
Lilly announced results from the SURPASS-2 trial on 4 March, after already releasing positive Phase III data showing tirzepatide on top of Sanofi's Lantus (insulin glargine) was more effective than Lantus alone. (Also see "Lilly’s Tirzepatide Effective, But Tolerability Still A Limitation" - Scrip, 18 February, 2021.) The SURPASS-1 trial also showed the drug – a potential first-in-class dual glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) agonist – was effective as a monotherapy