Individuals using Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY)’s obesity drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) regained weight after they stopped using the treatment, according to a study published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Patients using the drug lost an average of 20.9% of their body weight in nine months, the study showed.
However, withdrawing from the drug led to “substantial” weight regain of 14% whereas those who continued to use the drug saw an additional 5.5% reduction in weight.
The study’s lead author Dr. Louis Aronne commented: “Just like diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and many other metabolic diseases, the results show that chronic treatment of some type is going to be necessary in order to maintain all the benefits of weight loss achieved with the treatment.”
Eli Lilly senior vice president of product development Jeff Emmick added in a statement: “Patients, providers and the public do not always understand obesity is a chronic disease that often requires ongoing treatment.”
The Phase 3 study involved 670 adults with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 or greater than or equal to 27 with a weight-related complication excluding diabetes across 70 sites in four countries.
Shares of Eli Lilly were down 3.4% at about US$577 in midday trading Monday.
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