INTRODUCTION: Recent pharmacological options for weight management include the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists semaglutide and liraglutide, and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and GLP-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide, but head-to-head comparisons of all three of these interventions are lacking.
METHODS: Based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA), the efficacy and safety of semaglutide 2.4 mg, liraglutide 3 mg and tirzepatide 5, 10 and 15 mg were compared in adults without type 2 diabetes, and with either obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m) or overweight (BMI ≥ 27 kg/m) with ≥ 1 obesity-related complication. 2 2
RESULTS: Following a stringent heterogeneity assessment, six of 42 randomised controlled trials identified in the SLR were included in the NMA. Efficacy estimand results showed all tirzepatide doses were associated with statistically greater improvements in weight reduction outcomes versus liraglutide, and for tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg versus semaglutide: including percentage weight reduction (- 12.86% for tirzepatide 10 mg and - 13.95% for tirzepatide 15 mg versus liraglutide; - 4.85% and - 6.26% versus semaglutide) and waist circumference (- 11.79 cm and - 12.30 cm versus liraglutide; - 4.81 cm and - 5.32 cm versus semaglutide). All tirzepatide doses were associated with statistically greater improvements in triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure versus liraglutide, and generally comparable improvements in other glycaemic, lipid and blood pressure parameters versus liraglutide and semaglutide. All interventions had a comparable safety profile.
CONCLUSION: In this NMA, tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg were associated with improved efficacy versus liraglutide, improved or comparable efficacy versus semaglutide, and all interventions had a generally comparable safety profile for achieving weight reduction and reducing cardiometabolic risk factors among patients with obesity or overweight.
