Top in endocrinology: Tirzepatide lowers type 2 diabetes risk; discount drug prices vary

Adults with prediabetes and overweight or obesity who take the GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist tirzepatide once weekly may be 94% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, according to results from the SURMOUNT-1 study.

Adults who received tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound, Eli Lilly) for the 176-week treatment period lost 22.9% of their body weight and had significantly reduced risk for progressing from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes compared with placebo.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that puts nearly 900 million adults worldwide at an increased risk of other complications such as type 2 diabetes,” Jeff Emmick, MD, PhD, senior vice president of product development at Lilly, said in a press release. “These data reinforce the potential clinical benefits of long-term therapy for people living with obesity and prediabetes.”

It was the top story in endocrinology last week.

In another top story, no single drug discount program consistently offered the lowest prices for a majority of the top 50 generic drugs in the U.S., according to two meeting presenters.

Read these and more top stories in endocrinology below:

Tirzepatide cuts risk for progression to type 2 diabetes for adults with prediabetes

Adults with prediabetes and overweight or obesity have a 94% lower risk for developing type 2 diabetes with the once-weekly GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist tirzepatide vs. placebo, according to top-line results from the SURMOUNT-1 study. Read more.

Lowest price for top generic drugs in US varies among six discount programs

A 90-day supply of most of the top generic drugs in the U.S. can be purchased from a discount program for $15 or less, but none of the programs consistently offer the lowest prices for generic drugs, according to two presenters at the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists annual meeting. Read more.

Levels of some circulating proteins may inform care of comorbid obesity, heart failure

Twelve circulating proteins associated with obesity and heart failure may inform treatment for adults with both conditions, according to a study published in Obesity. Read more.

Out-of-pocket caps do not increase insulin use in type 1 or type 2 diabetes

States that approved caps to limit out-of-pocket costs for insulin did not have increased uptake in insulin use among people with diabetes and commercial insurance, findings published in Health Affairs showed. Read more.

Levothyroxine therapy may reduce CV risk for adults with subclinical hypothyroidism

Adults with subclinical hypothyroidism may have a lower risk for major adverse cardiovascular events if they receive levothyroxine therapy compared with no treatment, according to a study published in Thyroid. Read more.