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Tirzepatide for the treatment of obesity: Rationale and design of the SURMOUNT clinical development program.
Obesity (Silver Spring) · 2023
Last updated 2026-05-28The SURMOUNT program is testing tirzepatide, a once-weekly injection, to see if it helps adults with obesity (BMI of at least 27) lose weight when combined with lifestyle changes. In four large trials, participants were split into groups receiving tirzepatide or a placebo, with the main goal being the percentage of weight lost over the study period. Results from one trial showed weight loss, while findings from the other three are expected later in 2023. Participants in the studies were mostly women, with an average age between 45 and 54 years and a BMI between 36.1 and 38.9.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | Obesity (Silver Spring), 2023 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 67 |
| Relative citation ratio | 8.67 |
| NIH percentile | 97 |
| Molecules | tirzepatide |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Obesity is a growing global concern compounded by limited availability of effective treatment options. The SURMOUNT development program aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide as an adjunct to lifestyle intervention compared with placebo on chronic weight management in adults with BMI ≥ 27 kg/m with or without type 2 diabetes.
METHODS: The SURMOUNT program includes four global phase 3 trials NCT04184622 (SURMOUNT-1), NCT04657003 (SURMOUNT-2), NCT04657016 (SURMOUNT-3), and NCT04660643 (SURMOUNT-4). Participants are randomized to once-weekly subcutaneous tirzepatide versus placebo in a double-blind manner. The primary end point in all trials is the percentage change in body weight from randomization to end of treatment. Results for the primary end point for SURMOUNT-1 were published recently and results for the other trials are expected in 2023.
RESULTS: Across trials, participants have a mean age of 44.9 to 54.2 years, are mostly female (50.7% to 69.7%), and have a mean BMI of 36.1 to 38.9.
CONCLUSIONS: The extensive assessment of once-weekly tirzepatide in the global SURMOUNT program will detail the clinical effects of this first-in-class glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist in chronic weight management.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 36478180 ↗
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