O Ozempic medicine for type 2 diabetes treatment from Novo Nordisk, gained popularity due to its effects on weight loss, being widely used, even off-label, for weight loss. This happens thanks to the action of semaglutide its main component.
However, in October last year, Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) approved a new medicine to treat diabetes, the Mounjaro (synthesized by Eli Lilly do Brasil) which has been shown, in studies, to be more powerful than Ozempic for weight loss. But, after all, what is the difference between them?
According to Tassiane Alvarenga, endocrinologist and metabologist at USP (University of São Paulo), main difference between Mounjaro and Ozempic is in the composition : the first is composed of tirzepatide , a double agonist molecule of GLP-1 and GIP, hormones generated in the intestine and released after meals. This means that the medicine has the ability to stimulate the action of both GLP-1 and GIP, increasing the production of insulin by the pancreas to maintain blood sugar control.
Already the Ozempic is made up of semaglutide , a drug from the class of GLP-1 hormone analogues. It also acts on the secretion of insulin by the pancreas, regulating blood glucose and also promoting the reduction of appetite, as explained by Lorena Lima Amato, in an article previously published in CNN .
According to Alvarenga, both GIP and GLP-1 are linked to greater insulin secretion, but studies suggest that GIP accounts for around two-thirds of this contribution. This makes tirzepatide more “powerful” than semaglutide.
“Mounjaro induces the feeling of satiety, that is, the time between eating and being satisfied. It is a longer lasting effect than loss of appetite, which is the main characteristic of Ozempic”, explains the endocrinologist.
According to the expert, the appetite loss effect of semaglutide is due to the stagnation of food in the stomach, while tirzepatide maintains the metabolic rate and fat loss regardless of caloric intake. “We are still understanding the reason, but this explains the greater weight loss generated by Mounjaro”, she adds.
Furthermore, the fact that tirzepatide stimulates receptors for two hormones increases its positive effects. “When it stimulates these two receptors there is a synergy in the response. So we see a better result both in terms of reducing blood glucose levels and reducing weight”, said endocrinologist Tarissa Petry, from the Specialized Center for Obesity and Dysbetes at Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, in an article previously published in CNN .
What do the studies say?
A study of the Truveta Research, published in November last year, compared the active ingredients of Mounjaro and Ozempic in overweight and obese adults. Participants who used tirzepatide had higher success rates in losing body weight and significant weight loss at three, six and 12 months of treatment.
Additionally, Mounjaro clinical trial participants lost 5 kg to 11 kg, with a reported weight loss of 21.1% after 12 weeks It is an average total weight loss of 26.6% over 84 weeks , according to Eli Lilly. In Novo Nordisk's clinical trials, Ozempic users lost between 4.2 kg and 6.3 kg. Average, reduced body weight by approximately 15% after 68 weeks .
Despite this, it is worth remembering that the Mounjaro is not approved for the treatment of obesity and, yes, only for type 2 diabetes. In Brazil, there is another medicine already authorized for weight loss, Wegovy, which is also composed of semaglutide, but in a different dosage than Ozempic .
In relation to diabetes, the study SURPASS-2 showed that tirzepatide outperformed semaglutide in reducing glycated hemoglobin (A1C) levels. The 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg doses of tirzepatide showed A1C reductions of 2.01, 2.24 and 2.30, respectively, surpassing the 1.86 reduction of semaglutide at the 1 mg dose.
Differences in side effects can also be noticed
The same SURPASS-2 study showed that both tirzepatide and semaglutide has similar side effects , but the effects of the first molecule may be more numerous and more serious. According to the work, the Mounjaro can cause serious gastrointestinal illnesses . In clinical trials, more people stopped taking the medicine due to gastrointestinal side effects.
Both medications can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Tirzepatide can also cause indigestion.
That's why, It is essential to seek medical advice before starting treatment whether with Ozempic or Monjauro.
*With information from Léo Lopes
Source: CNN Brasil
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