Mounjaro (the brand name for injectable tirzepatide) is a weekly injection intended to treat elevated blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Mounjaro is not currently licensed for use in the UK for type 2 diabetes or for weight loss, and it is not available in the UK.
Similar medications include Ozempic and Rybelsus (injectable and oral semaglutide, respectively), which are licensed for use in type 2 diabetes, and Wegovy (injectable semaglutide) which is licensed for use in weight loss but not yet available in the UK.
Mounjaro is a medication intended for the treatment of high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. It is administered weekly via a subcutaneous injection, similar to Ozempic and Wegovy.
Mounjaro is a novel medication developed by Eli Lilly and Company. It belongs to a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1s) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist (GIP RA) dual agonists. Tirzepatide is being studied for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as well as for weight loss.
GLP-1 drugs, such as exenatide and liraglutide, are commonly used to manage type 2 diabetes as they mimic the action of the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion and reducing glucagon production.
Tirzepatide, as a dual GLP-1 and GIP agonist, has the potential to provide additional benefits in glucose control by activating both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors. GIP is another hormone involved in the regulation of blood sugar levels. By stimulating both receptors, tirzepatide can enhance insulin secretion and reduce glucagon levels even further than traditional GLP-1 RA medications.
Clinical trials have shown promising results for tirzepatide in terms of glucose control, weight loss, and cardiovascular outcomes. It has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to other GLP-1s, and it has also shown significant potential as a weight loss treatment.
Whilst Mounjaro has been granted marketing authorisation for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, it has not obtained NICE approval which is required before a medication is prescribed by the NHS.
