Mounjaro Weight Loss Injection

Mounjaro™ has recently been approved by the United States medicines regulator, the FDA, for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes as an adjunct to diet and exercise. Like the Wegovy weight loss pen it is an injection that can be used to suppress your appetite and therefore aid in your weight loss journey. Studies showed that Mounjaro helped people lose an additional 12 pounds than the active ingredient Semaglutide (Wegovy™).

When available in the UK, you will be able to order and buy Mounjaro Weight Loss pens online from our UK registered online pharmacy and prescribing service. The availability date is unknown at this stage however Wegovy is a similar drug that is licensed for weight loss in the UK.

Mounjaro™ is a prescription-only weight loss injection containing the active ingredient Mounjaro™ Tirzepatide. This is a registered trademark to Eli Lilly who are an american based pharmaceutical company.  

The Mounjaro™ (Tirzepatide) injection is an injectable prescription medicine used for adults with obesity (BMI ≥30) or overweight (excess weight) (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems (e.g high blood pressure, type-2-diabetes, high cholesterol) to help them lose weight and keep the weight off.

• Mounjaro™ should only be used with a reduced calorie meal plan and regular exercise. Mounjaro™ alone will not reduce your weight if taken alone without any other life style adjustments.
• Mounjaro™ contains Tirzepatide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist & GIP receptor agonist and should NOT be used in conjunction with other GLP-1 agonists such as Saxenda or Ozempic or Wegovy.
• There is insufficient data regarding whether taking Mounjaro™ in conjunction with other prescription, over-the-counter or herbal weight loss products is safe and/or effective.

Mounjaro™ (Tirzepatide) is a self-injectable weight loss treatment. It containts the active ingredient Tirzepatide which is very similar to a naturally occuring hormone in the human body called Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1), which belongs to a family of hormones in the body called incretins.

After a meal GLP-1 is naturally released from your intestines to help regulate your blood sugar levels and reduce the amount of glucagon in your body. Glucagon is a naturally occurring hormone that works by inhibiting the action of insulin. As a result, it makes you feel less hungry, slows down the emptying of your stomach and makes you feel 'fuller' for longer.

In summary, Mounjaro™ 'tricks' your body into producing more GLP-1 and therefore sends signals to your brain that you are full and do not need to eat. 

The second phase 3 clinical trial for Mounjaro™ conducted by Eli Lilly and Company saw 900 patients with with type 2 diabetes and BMI greater than 27 kg/m2-29.9 kg/m2. Patients received Mounjaro™ or placebo in addition to instruction for a reduced-calorie diet (approximately 500 kcal/day deficit) and increased physical activity counseling (recommended to a minimum of 150 min/week) throughout the trial.

The trial resulted in a satistically significant reduction in body weight when compared to the placebo. The trial showed that there was an average reduction of 15.7% in body weight in patients taking Mounjaro™ vs 3.3% reduction in body weight for those taking the placebo.

The results also indicated that after 72 weeks on Mounjaro™, over 80% of patients lost 5% or more of their body wieght. In the placebo group, 30% of patients lost 5% or more. Further clinical trials were also carried out in participants who did not have Type 2 diabetes, which showed statistically significant reductions in body weight.

Saxenda® (liraglutide) injection 3 mg is an injectable prescription medicine that may help some adults with excess weight (BMI ≥27) who also have weight-related medical problems or obesity (BMI ≥30) lose weight and keep the weight off. Saxenda® should be used with a reduced-calorie meal plan and increased physical activity.

Both Mounjaro™ and Saxenda® are GLP-1 receptor agonists, and are part of the same family of injectable hormone like drugs, however the main difference between the two is that Saxenda® is administered once DAILY, whereas Mounjaro™ is administered once WEEKLY.

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a type of medication that belongs to the class of drugs known as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor agonists. This group of medications is primarily used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. 

Mounjaro works by imitating the effects of gut hormones that are secreted by endocrine cells following a meal, such as GLP-1 and GIP, which help control regulation of blood sugar. Mounjaro helps to stimulate the release of insulin, reduces the overall production of glucagon, (a hormone that raises blood sugar), slows down gastric emptying and promotes the feeling of fullness (satiety).

Mounjaro has shown promising levels of efficacy for weight loss in clinical trials. In Phase 2 trials involving subjects who were either obese or overweight, Mounjaro led to significant reductions in body weight compared to the placebo and other comparator treatments. Mounjaro is typically administered once a week, by subcutaneous injection.

For example, in a trial called SURPASS-1, Mounjaro achieved an average weight loss of approximately 14% over 52 weeks. In another study called SURMOUNT-1, subjects that were treated with Mounjaro experienced an average weight loss ranging from 11.3% to 16% across different doses compared to placebo. 

Wegovy® is the brand name for semaglutide 2.4mg. Wegovy® is a medication used for chronic weight management in adults who are either obese or overweight, with at least one weight-related comorbidity. It is a GLP-1 RA that helps to regulate appetite and reduce food consumption. 

Wegovy® is administered once a week by subcutaneous injection; research has shown that when used in combination with a calorie controlled diet and increased physical activity, significant weight loss is seen.

In a study called STEP 1, subjects that received semaglutide 2.4mg experienced an average weight loss of around 15% compared to the placebo group. The same study also noted improvements in various health markers such as waist circumference and improved glycemic control.

Comparing the efficacy of Mounjaro and Wegovy® directly is challenging because they are different medications with varying dosages and mechanisms of action, however, both of these medications are GLP-1 RA and have shown efficacious effects when managing weight loss in clinical trials.

Mounjaro:

Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Mounjaro for weight loss. Studies such as SURPASS-1 and SURMOUNT-1, previously mentioned, have demonstrated that Mounjaro achieved significant weight loss ranging from 11.3% to 16.0% over 52 weeks when compared to a placebo or other treatments in the same category. Mounjaro has also shown potential for weight reduction as well as benefits in glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors.

Wegovy®:

Semaglutide 2.4mg (Wegovy®) has also shown notable effectiveness for weight loss in clinical trials. In the STEP program (consisting of trials STEP 1, STEP 2 and STEP 3), participants treated with Wegovy® experienced substantial weight loss compared to the placebo group. During STEP 1, the average weight loss was approximately 15% over 68 weeks.

Whilst both Mounjaro and Wegovy® have demonstrated efficacious results when promoting weight loss, the specific extent of weight reduction and individual response can vary amongst individuals. Factors such as adherence to treatment, lifestyle modifications and baseline characteristics can influence the outcome or results. 

Orlistat 120mg capsules are an effective weight loss medication used to treat obesity and reduce overall weight gain.

Through clinical trials, Orlistat was proven to block around one-third of all fat consumed with meals. Working directly in the stomach, Orlistat can help to make weight loss more effective than with a healthy diet and increased exercise alone.

Orlistat is prescription only, the body needs to break down dietary fats into smaller pieces before absorbing them. Orlistat works by obstructing the enzymes that break down the fats in your diet, halting the absorption process.

The obvious difference between Mounjaro™ and Orlistat is that you take Orlistat orally, whereas Mounjaro™ is injected. Orlistat also needs to be taken up to three times a day (after each meal) to get the best out of it meaning it is nowhere near as convenient as Mounjaro™, which is injected once weekly.

Mounjaro™ may cause fetal harm. When pregnancy is recognized, discontinue Mounjaro™. Discontinue Mounjaro™ in patients at least 2 months before a planned pregnancy.

As this isn't available in the UK yet, our service offers other weight loss treatments. These include Orlistat, Saxenda and Wegovy which is the most similar medicine to Mounjaro as it has a similar mechanism of action and is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.

• https://www.mounjaro.com/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK551568/#:~:text=Glucagon%2Dlike%20peptide%2D1%20agonists,and%20contraindications%20for%20these%20drugs.
• https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19748067/#:~:text=Thus%2C%20GIP%20receptor%20agonists%20offer,lipid%20metabolism%20and%20fat%20deposition.
• https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01324-6/fulltext
• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038
• https://www.wegovy.com/
• https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183