Tirzepatide has also demonstrated efficacy in heart failure.

He drug tirzepatide (Munjaro), indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, has also been shown to be effective. effective for treat heart failureas announced by pharmaceutical company Lilly based on results from the phase 3 SUMMIT clinical trial, which showed it significantly reduces the risk of heart failure in adults with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity.

In addition, treated patients experienced marked improvement in symptoms and physical limitations associated with the disease. The results are published in New England Journal of Medicine and were presented at the 2024 American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions.

“There is now no doubt about the adverse effect of obesity on heart failure with preserved ejection fraction through direct effects on the myocardium, affecting its relaxation and increasing chamber filling pressures, as well as promoting inflammation at the systemic and local level.” other effects,” says Dr. Almudena Castro Condecardiologist and head of the cardiac rehabilitation department at the La Paz University Hospital in Madrid, in a press release published by Lilly.

“SUMMIT gives us compelling evidence of the benefit of tirzepatide in patients of this profile who, just a few years ago, had no drugs to improve their prognosis. At the same time, this is a call to action so that the medical community that treats these patients understands close association between obesity and HFpEF and hence its treatment is another pillar of our therapeutic arsenal,” the doctor adds.

Progress in treating heart failure and obesity

Tirzepatide is a medicine approved in Europe for the treatment of overweight or obesity and at least one underlying condition in adults, which must be combined with a low-calorie diet and exercise. It is also indicated for people with type 2 diabetes who have not achieved adequate disease control with other treatments. This drug belongs to a new therapeutic class that simultaneously activates the hormone receptors GIP and GLP-1 and represents an innovative approach to treating complex conditions such as heart failure and obesity.

The SUMMIT clinical trial enrolled 731 participants worldwide and assessed the efficacy and safety of tirzepatide in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and obesity, with or without type 2 diabetes. Participants were randomized to receive specific doses of tirzepatide. 5, 10 or 15 mg or placebo. The study looked at both a reduction in the incidence of heart failure and an improvement in symptoms and physical limitations, with follow-up periods of up to three years in some cases.

The study achieved two main goals, showing that tirzepatide was able to reduce the risk of heart failure-related events by 38% compared with placebo. There was also a 56% reduction in the risk of hospitalization for the disease. In addition, patients taking tirzepatide experienced significant improvement in quality of life resulting in an increase of nearly 25 points on the KCCQ-CSS, which assesses symptoms and physical limitations. In comparison, the placebo group only achieved a 15-point improvement.

“Data from the SUMMIT trial suggest that tirzepatide may provide significant benefit to obese people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.”

Benefits of Tirzepatide were not limited to the basic criteria of the trial. Thus, in the six-minute test, the treated patients walked about 30 meters further, while the placebo patients only walked an additional 8 meters. Weight reduction was also significant, averaging 15.7% compared to 2.2% in the placebo group. Another important finding was a 43.4% reduction in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a marker of inflammation, compared with only a 3.4% to 5% reduction in the placebo group. .

In terms of side effects, the most common were gastrointestinal discomfort such as diarrhea (18.4% vs 6.3% placebo), nausea (17% vs 6.5%) and constipation (14.8% vs 6%). In general, these effects were mild to moderate, although in some cases they led to treatment discontinuation (23 patients in the tirzepatide group versus 5 in the placebo group).

“Cardiometabolic diseases such as heart failure and obesity are closely related and often coexist. New approaches are needed to address the interconnected nature of these conditions. At Lilly, we want to better understand the fundamental causes of these diseases and how they relate to each other so we can better treat them,” said Dr. Miriam Rubio de Santos, medical director of diabetes and obesity at Lilly Spain.

The specialist adds that “data from the SUMMIT trial suggest that tirzepatide may provide significant benefit to obese people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.” With these advances, tirzepatide promises to become a fundamental tool in the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases, improving both the health and quality of life of those facing these health problems.

Source: American Heart Association and Lilly.