From the Guidelines
Both Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) offer significant cardiovascular benefits for people with diabetes, but the most recent and highest quality study suggests that Mounjaro may provide slightly superior cardiovascular protection. According to the latest evidence 1, Mounjaro has demonstrated a reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events in clinical trials, while Ozempic has shown a reduction depending on the specific study. Mounjaro works as a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, whereas Ozempic is solely a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which may explain Mounjaro's potentially enhanced cardiovascular effects.
Key Points to Consider
- Both medications help reduce cardiovascular risk by promoting weight loss, lowering blood pressure, improving lipid profiles, and reducing inflammation.
- They also help prevent atherosclerosis and improve heart function.
- The standard doses are 2.5-15 mg weekly for Mounjaro and 0.25-2 mg weekly for Ozempic, with both medications typically started at lower doses and gradually increased.
- While both medications are effective for cardiovascular protection in diabetes patients, the choice between them should be based on individual patient factors, tolerability, and insurance coverage, with guidance from a healthcare provider.
- The most recent study 1 suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, including Ozempic, reduce the risk of atherosclerotic major adverse cardiovascular events to a comparable degree in people with type 2 diabetes.
Cardiovascular Benefits
- Mounjaro and Ozempic have been shown to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including cardiovascular death, nonfatal MI, and nonfatal stroke.
- The reduction in cardiovascular risk is thought to be due to the medications' effects on weight loss, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and inflammation.
- Both medications have been shown to be effective in preventing atherosclerosis and improving heart function.
Patient Factors to Consider
- Individual patient factors, such as medical history, current medications, and lifestyle, should be taken into account when choosing between Mounjaro and Ozempic.
- Tolerability and insurance coverage should also be considered when making a decision.
- A healthcare provider should be consulted to determine the best course of treatment for each individual patient.
From the Research
Cardiovascular Benefits of Mounjaro vs Ozempic for Diabetes
- The studies provided do not directly compare Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) in terms of cardiovascular benefits 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- However, the studies suggest that both tirzepatide and semaglutide have shown cardiovascular benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes 2, 3, 5, 6.
- A study comparing tirzepatide and semaglutide found that tirzepatide was noninferior and superior to semaglutide in terms of glycated hemoglobin level reduction and body weight reduction 3.
- Another study found that semaglutide was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke and myocardial infarction, compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) 5.
- The American Heart Association scientific statement update highlights the importance of modifying various risk factors responsible for cardiovascular disease in diabetes, including the use of newer antihyperglycemic agents such as GLP-1 receptor agonists 6.
- The SURPASS-CVOT study is currently testing the cardiovascular protection of tirzepatide versus dulaglutide 2.
Comparison of Tirzepatide and Semaglutide
- Tirzepatide is a dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, while semaglutide is a selective GLP-1 receptor agonist 2, 3.
- The studies suggest that tirzepatide may have a greater efficacy in reducing glycated hemoglobin levels and body weight compared to semaglutide 3.
- However, the studies also suggest that both tirzepatide and semaglutide have similar gastrointestinal tolerability, except for more diarrhea reported with tirzepatide 2, 3.