In this episode, hosts Diana Isaacs, PharmD, an endocrine clinical pharmacist, director of Education and Training in Diabetes Technology, and codirector of Endocrine Disorders in Pregnancy at the Cleveland Clinic, and Natalie Bellini, DNP, program director of Diabetes Technology at University Hospitals Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center, explore the recent updates surrounding GLP-1 receptor agonists, particularly focusing on long-term tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) data and the current status of GLP-1 shortages.

The hosts begin the episode by highlighting the FDA recently reported a stabilization in the GLP-1 supply, may reduce the use of compounded, unapproved versions of these drugs, which the FDA now cautions against in the absence of official shortages.

Turning specifically to tirzepatide, the hosts discuss findings from the SURMOUNT-1 trial, now with a 3-year follow-up, which demonstrated sustained weight loss for doses up to 20% in patients with obesity. Additionally, tirzepatide showed a 94% reduction in progression from prediabetes to type 2 diabetes, which hosts highlight as a promising outcome given the increasing diabetes prevalence. The hosts anticipate further research that could reveal even longer-term benefits, especially as tirzepatide continues to show positive outcomes in sleep apnea and heart failure metrics.

Isaacs and Bellini encourage clinicians to consider tirzepatide’s sustained metabolic effects and urge a continued focus on personalized medicine as more data emerges. They conclude with a call to stay informed as GLP-1 research progresses, with the potential for further applications in chronic disease prevention and treatment.