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Eli Lilly and Company (Manufacturer of popular weight loss drug Mounjaro) today announced ground-breaking findings from the Phase 3 SURMOUNT-1 trial, marking a significant milestone in diabetes prevention and weight management. The study revealed that treatment with tirzepatide (Mounjaro®) led to sustained, significant weight loss while preventing progression to type 2 diabetes in nearly 99% of adults with pre-diabetes and obesity or being overweight over a 176-week period.
The results, published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at ObesityWeek 2024, showed that tirzepatide reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by an astounding 94% compared to placebo. Additionally, participants receiving the 15 mg dose of tirzepatide achieved an average weight reduction of 22.9%, maintained consistently over the three-year study.
A Paradigm Shift in Diabetes Prevention
“This study represents a pivotal moment in obesity and diabetes care,” said Ania Jastreboff, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Yale Obesity Research Center. “Patients treated with Mounjaro® not only experienced unprecedented, sustained weight loss but also benefitted from a significant reduction in diabetes risk, with nearly 99% remaining diabetes-free over three years.”
Key Findings at a Glance
- Risk Reduction: A 94% decrease in the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes among participants treated with tirzepatide.
- Weight Loss: Average sustained weight loss of 22.9% with the 15 mg dose.
- Prevention Impact: For every nine patients treated, one case of diabetes was prevented.
- Health Improvements: Improvements in glycemic control, cardiometabolic risk factors, and overall quality of life were sustained through the study’s duration.
“Tirzepatide’s ability to deliver long-term weight management while significantly lowering diabetes risk underscores its potential as a transformative therapy,” added Jeff Emmick, M.D., Ph.D., senior vice president of product development at Lilly.
A Dual-Action Treatment
Tirzepatide is the first approved dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist. These gut hormones work synergistically to regulate weight and glucose, offering benefits beyond weight loss. A post hoc analysis suggested that while weight reduction accounted for approximately half of the diabetes prevention effect, the remaining benefit likely stems from tirzepatide’s other therapeutic mechanisms.
Looking Ahead
As obesity and diabetes continue to pose global health challenges, the findings from the SURMOUNT-1 trial position Mounjaro® as a critical tool in long-term disease prevention and management.
“With the ability to prevent diabetes in high-risk individuals while achieving significant weight loss, Mounjaro® has the potential to redefine standards of care,” concluded Dr. Emmick.
This groundbreaking study signals a promising future for patients and healthcare providers in tackling obesity and diabetes prevention.
References
- Jastreboff, A. M., et al. (2022). Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
- Jastreboff, A. M., le Roux, C. W., Stefanski, A., Aronne, L. J., Halpern, B., Wharton, S., Wilding, J. P. H., et al. (2024). Tirzepatide for Obesity Treatment and Diabetes Prevention. The New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2410819. © 2024.
When new medical studies are released, they can feel full of numbers and complex terms. At SheMed, our role is to help you understand what they really mean for you, your health, and your future.
Recently, Novo Nordisk released the results of the STEER study, one of the most significant pieces of research yet on GLP-1 medicines like Wegovy. And the findings show something powerful: Wegovy is not only about weight loss, it’s also about heart health.
The Big Picture: What the STEER Study Looked At
The STEER study explored how GLP-1 medicines affect heart health in people living with Overweight or Obesity and established cardiovascular disease (but without diabetes).
Researchers compared Wegovy (Semaglutide 2.4mg) with Tirzepatide (Mounjaro). They focused on the risk of serious heart problems, what doctors call “major adverse cardiovascular events” (MACE). These include:
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Death from heart disease
What They Found
The results were striking:
- For people who stayed on treatment without big gaps, Wegovy reduced the risk of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular death by 57% more than Mounjaro.
- When looking at all treated people, even those with breaks in care Wegovy still showed a 29% reduction in these serious events overall.
In short, Wegovy is not only helping people lose weight, it is also showing clear cardiovascular protection, especially when used consistently.
Why This Matters for You
We’ve always known GLP-1 medicines are powerful tools for weight loss, but the STEER study highlights something even bigger: they can also protect your heart. For anyone living with Obesity and cardiovascular disease, this is game-changing.
It also reinforces an important truth - long-term commitment matters most. The people who saw the greatest benefits were those who stayed consistent with their medication. That’s why at SheMed, we design every part of our programme to keep you supported, motivated, and engaged for the long run.
The SheMed Difference: Seeing the Bigger Picture
Medication is only one part of your health journey. At SheMed, we combine Wegovy with wraparound care:
- Regular blood tests to track key markers like cholesterol, blood sugar, and liver health.
- Weekly check-ins and app reminders to help you stay on track.
- Education and content designed specifically for women, covering sleep, hormones, activity, and nutrition.
- Proactive Side effect care and support to keep you comfortable and supported as your body adjusts.
This holistic approach matters because weight loss is just one marker of progress. By running blood tests before starting the programme, at 6 months, and 12 months, we can show you the deeper changes happening inside your body, improvements in cholesterol, blood sugar, and overall metabolic health.
It means you’ll see the true value of GLP-1s, not just in how you look or feel, but in the measurable ways your health is improving and your risks are reducing.
Why Wegovy Through SheMed Makes Sense
At SheMed, we’ve worked hard to make Wegovy accessible and affordable. With static, transparent pricing across doses, our members know exactly what they’re paying. That means no hidden surprises and no price hikes as you move up through titration.
When you combine that cost benefit with the evidence from STEER that Wegovy offers not just weight loss but cardiovascular protection the case for choosing Wegovy through SheMed becomes even stronger.
You’re not just investing in weight management; you’re investing in heart health, future health, and a programme designed to keep you safe and supported every step of the way.
The Future of Health With SheMed
The STEER study is a reminder that the story of GLP-1s is still unfolding and it’s about so much more than weight loss. These medicines are changing how we think about obesity, cardiovascular health, and long-term wellbeing.
At SheMed, we’ll continue to keep you informed as new research emerges, but more importantly, we’ll keep showing you the bigger picture through your own results. With every blood test, every milestone, and every step forward, you’ll see how far you’ve come not just in weight, but in health.
Because at SheMed, you’re not just losing weight. You’re gaining health, protecting your future, and building the strongest version of you.
Wegovy has quickly become a key treatment option in obesity management, particularly for adults living with excess weight and health conditions linked to obesity.
With recent price increases for Mounjaro®, another GLP-1 medication, many patients and healthcare providers are now turning to Wegovy as a strong alternative.
Clinical research shows that Wegovy can deliver significant weight loss results, often comparable to those seen with Mounjaro, making it one of the most effective options currently available.
Recent news and clinical trial data reveal that higher doses of Wegovy specifically at 7.2 mg weekly, have led to average weight loss of around 21% in adults with obesity, with approximately one-third of participants achieving a weight loss of 25% or more over 72 weeks. This is notably greater than the 15% average weight loss seen at the standard 2.4 mg dose.
Latest Clinical Data on Higher Doses
The 2025 STEP UP phase 3b trial evaluated semaglutide at both 7.2 mg and 2.4 mg weekly doses versus placebo in people with obesity who did not have diabetes. The results indicated a clear dose-response effect:
- Mean weight loss was 21% at 7.2 mg, compared to 17.5% at 2.4 mg, and much lower with placebo.
- Specifically, 51% of those on 7.2 mg lost at least 20% of their body weight, and 33% achieved a reduction of 25% or more.
- For 2.4 mg, 35% lost 20% or more, and 17% achieved 25% or greater weight loss.
Regulatory and Safety Considerations
- Novo Nordisk has announced plans to seek regulatory approval for the higher 7.2 mg dose in the EU and other regions in late 2025.
- Safety and tolerability of the 7.2 mg weekly dose were consistent with the known profile of semaglutide, with gastrointestinal side effects remaining most common, except for a low discontinuation rate for adverse effects (about 3%).
- These findings extend the potential of Wegovy for people requiring greater degrees of weight loss, emphasising the dose-dependent effect of semaglutide GLP-1 therapy.
Comparing New findings with Mounjaro
At higher doses (7.2 mg), Wegovy has demonstrated weight loss outcomes that closely mirror those achieved with Mounjaro. Clinical data show an average 21% reduction in body weight over 72 weeks with Wegovy, with around half of patients reaching at least 20% weight loss. By comparison, Mounjaro studies report average reductions of up to 22–23% at higher doses over a similar treatment duration. While Wegovy’s 7.2 mg dose remains under regulatory review and is not yet standard practice, these findings highlight that patients considering a switch may be able to achieve results that are highly comparable to those seen with Mounjaro, offering another strong option in pharmacological obesity management.
Head-to-head style snapshot (72-week outcomes)
In conclusion, if you are considering switching from Mounjaro to Wegovy, now is an excellent opportunity. Wegovy offers a highly effective alternative for weight management with similar clinical results, and - importantly - comes at a considerably lower price, especially as Mounjaro prices are set to rise sharply in the UK from September 2025. Choosing Wegovy can help maintain your weight loss goals while making your treatment more affordable.
If you have any questions or need personalised advice about making the switch, please do not hesitate to contact the Shemed support team at support@shemed.com.
References
- ClinicalTrials.gov. (2024, December 12). A research study to see how semaglutide helps people with excess weight, lose weight (STEP UP) (NCT05646706). U.S. National Library of Medicine. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05646706
- Wilding, J. P. H., Batterham, R. L., Calanna, S., Davies, M., Van Gaal, L. F., Lingvay, I., McGowan, B. M., Rosenstock, J., Tran, M. T., Wadden, T. A., Wharton, S., Yokote, K., Zeuthen, N., Kushner, R. F., & STEP 1 Study Group. (2021). Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11), 989–1002. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Jastreboff, A. M., Aronne, L. J., Ahmad, N. N., Wharton, S., Connery, L., Alves, B., Kiyosue, A., Zhang, S., Liu, B., Bunck, M. C., & Wadden, T. A. (2022). Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine, 387(3), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
- American Diabetes Association (ADA). (2025, June). STEP UP trial: Semaglutide 7.2 mg in adults with obesity without type 2 diabetes [Conference presentation]. ADA 85th Scientific Sessions, Chicago, IL. Retrieved from https://diabetesjournals.org/ (poster abstract ePoster 446-P).
- Novo Nordisk. (2025, June 9). Semaglutide 7.2 mg shows ~21% weight loss at 72 weeks in STEP UP trial [Press release]. Retrieved from https://www.novonordisk.com/