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Mapping the global research landscape of tirzepatide: a bibliometric analysis of trends, collaborations, and emerging themes in obesity and diabetes managements.

Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol · 2026

Last updated 2026-05-28

Research on tirzepatide, a drug for obesity and type 2 diabetes, has grown rapidly, with 446 studies published as of 2024. The United States leads this research, producing the most studies (243) and receiving the most citations (10,076). Key topics include how the drug works, its effects on weight and blood sugar control, and study methods, with new areas like drug safety and cost emerging.

AI summary of the abstract below.

JournalNaunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol, 2026
Citations1
Molecules tirzepatide
Conditions studied Type 2 Diabetes, Obesity

Abstract

Tirzepatide, a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, shows promise in managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. This bibliometric analysis maps its research landscape, identifying trends, collaborations, and emerging themes to guide future investigations. A structured search of the Scopus database was performed using the keywords "tirzepatide" in titles or abstracts, limited to English-language original articles. A total of 446 documents were retrieved. Bibliometric analysis was conducted using VOSviewer (v1.6.19), Biblioshiny (Rstudio plugin), and CiteSpace (v6.2.R6) to visualize co-authorship, keyword co-occurrence, citation patterns, and thematic evolution. Tirzepatide publications peaked in 2024 (n = 163), with the USA leading (n = 243, 10,076 citations). Key authors included Urva, S. and Haupt, A. Three thematic clusters emerged: pharmacological mechanisms, clinical outcomes, and study design. Emerging topics included weight reduction, pharmacovigilance, and cost-effectiveness. Co-citation analysis identified four author clusters, with Frias J.P. (TLS = 13,605) most influential. Journals like Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism dominated. Thematic evolution showed shifts toward real-world evidence and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, reflecting broadening research scope. Tirzepatide research is growing globally with diverse collaborations, informing future therapeutic strategies and highlighting gaps in long-term safety, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.

Verbatim abstract via PubMed 40900331 ↗

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