First ever head-to-head trial of Mounjaro and Wegovy reveals which one is a more effective weight-loss drug
One weight loss injection has been branded more effective than the other, as scientists carry out the first ever head-to-head trial of Mounjaro and Wegovy.
It seems to be the head-to-head we've all been waiting for, and no, we don't mean 100 men vs 1 gorilla.
The long awaited trial of Mounjaro vs Wegovy has finally been done, and the results show that one really is more effective than the other.
In case neither of the names are ringing any bells, Wegovy is just a different brand name for the active ingredient that Ozempic also has, and both are actually primarily prescribed for weight loss, where Ozempic is not (it's a diabetes type 2 drug).
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There have been a lot of rumours and chat around which celebrities are using the weight-loss injections, but less chat about which provide better results.
However, while Ozempic is not available for patients using the NHS, both Mounjaro and Wegovy are.
One thing we do know, is that both have quite similar side effects.
They also both work in the same way - via a self-administered injection used once a week.
Both Mounjaro and Wegovy mimic the GLP-1 hormone, which we receive naturally, and usually lets the brain know that we are full.
The head-to-head trial was carried out by the manufacturer of Mounjaro. It involved 750 medically obese participants, with an average weight of 113kg.
They received treatment for 72 weeks, and were asked to take the highest dose their body could tolerate.
The results of the study revealed that Mounjaro is indeed more effective than its rival.
This conclusion was made after 32 percent of participants lost a quarter of their body weight on Mounjaro, compared to just 16 percent on Wegovy.
Both drugs cause similar side effects, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and feeling weak or tired.
But those participants who took Mounjaro were found to have improved blood pressure, bloody sugar, and cholesterol levels.
Dr Louis Aronne, who conducted the trial at the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, said: "The majority of people with obesity will do just fine with semaglutide (Wegovy), those at the higher end may ultimately do better with tirzepatide (Mounjaro)."
Despite Mounjaro coming out on top, Wegovy is also licensed for other conditions in the UK.
Doctors have suggested that it can be used to prevent heart attacks, but the equivalent trials with Mounjaro have not yet been completed.
Tyla has contacted the manufacturers of Mounjaro for comment.
Mia Williams