Eli Lilly reported results from two separate drug trials this week. According to NBC News, late-stage trial results for retatrutide, a GLP-1 drug, were published Tuesday in The Lancet, showing people with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 60 pounds, or about 23% of their body weight.
Separately, Reuters and CNBC reported that an experimental combination regimen adding Lilly's amylin drug eloralintide to tirzepatide (marketed as Zepbound) outperformed Zepbound alone in a mid-stage weight-loss trial. CNBC said Lilly plans to start Phase 3 trials on this combination regimen by the end of the year.
MarketWatch and STAT both reported that while the combination drug produced significant weight loss, it also came with more side effects than Zepbound alone, and STAT noted high discontinuation rates in the mid-stage study, raising questions about how well patients tolerated the treatment.
Bloomberg and Time also covered the drug results, with Bloomberg describing the weight loss as record-setting and Time characterizing the results as promising.
How each side covered it
Left
- NBC News reported people with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 60 pounds, or 23% of body weight, on retatrutide.
- Bloomberg described the results as record weight loss.
- Time characterized the drug results as promising.
“People with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 60 pounds on Lilly's latest weight loss drug” — NBC News
Center
- Reuters and CNBC reported the eloralintide-tirzepatide combination produced more weight loss than Zepbound alone in a mid-stage trial.
- MarketWatch and STAT noted the combination drug caused more side effects than Zepbound alone.
- STAT highlighted high discontinuation rates in the mid-stage study, raising tolerability questions.
- CNBC reported Lilly plans to start Phase 3 trials on the combination regimen by year's end.
“Experimental Lilly combination drug tops Zepbound in weight-loss trial” — Reuters
Questions readers ask
What weight-loss results did Eli Lilly report?
Eli Lilly reported that its drug retatrutide helped people with Type 2 diabetes lose up to 60 pounds, or about 23% of body weight, in a late-stage trial published in The Lancet, according to NBC News. Separately, a mid-stage trial found that combining the amylin drug eloralintide with tirzepatide (Zepbound) produced more weight loss than Zepbound alone, according to Reuters and CNBC.
Were there side effects?
Yes. MarketWatch and STAT both reported that the eloralintide-tirzepatide combination drug caused more side effects than Zepbound alone, and STAT noted high discontinuation rates in the mid-stage trial.
What happens next for Eli Lilly's combination drug?
According to CNBC, Eli Lilly plans to start Phase 3 trials on the eloralintide-tirzepatide combination regimen by the end of this year.
What did different outlets emphasize about these trial results?
Left-leaning outlets emphasized the scale of weight loss from retatrutide, with NBC News and Bloomberg highlighting record results. Center outlets, including MarketWatch, Reuters, CNBC and STAT, focused more on the combination drug's comparative performance against Zepbound and raised questions about side effects and discontinuation rates.
Sources · 8 outlet reports
- BloombergLeft-leaningLilly Drug Combo Spurs Record Weight Loss in Diabetes Study
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningPeople with Type 2 diabetes lost up to 60 pounds on Lilly’s latest weight loss drug
- TimeLeft-leaningEli Lilly’s Experimental Weight-Loss Drug Shows Promising Results
- CNBCCenterEli Lilly says closely watched combo obesity regimen boosts weight loss in mid-stage trial
- MarketWatchCenterAdding Lilly’s new drug to Zepbound helped people lose up to 23% of their weight. But there were more side effects.
- Medical XpressCenterExperimental obesity drug targets appetite through amylin, offering potential alternative to GLP-1 therapies
- ReutersCenterLilly's experimental drug cuts weight by 21% in diabetes trial
- STATCenterSTAT+: Eli Lilly’s Zepbound combined with amylin drug led to significant weight loss in mid-stage trial