A major clinical trial published in June 2026 in the New England Journal of Medicine found that tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s
Zepbound, reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by 22 percent in adults with obesity and no prior heart disease.
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Key Developments
The SUMMIT-2 trial tracked 8,300 participants over three years. The 22 percent reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events covers heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular deaths combined.
The finding extends the cardiovascular benefit data beyond people with established heart disease, which was the focus of the 2024 SELECT trial for semaglutide
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Background and Context
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It suggests the benefit may apply more broadly to people using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss.
What Experts Are Saying
Participants in the tirzepatide group lost an average of 18.4 percent of body weight over 36 months, compared to 2.1 percent in the placebo group.
The cardiovascular benefit appeared to track closely with the degree of weight loss. See also: World Cup 2026 June 19: USA vs Australia, Brazil vs Haiti.
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Researchers found statistically significant reductions in systolic blood pressure (down 8.3 mmHg versus 1.2 mmHg in placebo), LDL cholesterol, and inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein.
The study did not find a statistically significant reduction in cardiovascular mortality alone, only in the composite MACE endpoint.
Researchers noted the trial may not have been long enough or large enough to detect a mortality signal independently.
The SELECT trial for semaglutide, published in 2024, showed a 20 percent reduction in MACE in adults with established cardiovascular disease.
The SUMMIT-2 results for tirzepatide show a 22 percent reduction in people without prior heart disease.
Direct comparison between trials is difficult because the patient populations differ.
The SELECT trial enrolled higher-risk patients with existing cardiovascular disease; SUMMIT-2 enrolled people with obesity and cardiovascular risk factors but no prior events.
Both drugs are GLP-1 receptor agonists, but tirzepatide also activates the GIP receptor, a dual mechanism that produces greater weight loss in head-to-head trials.
Whether the extra weight loss translates to additional cardiovascular benefit is an active research question.
Cardiologists interviewed by TrustPost said the SUMMIT-2 data strengthens the case for prescribing GLP-1 drugs in people with obesity who have cardiovascular risk factors, even before a first heart event.
Current US prescribing guidelines for Zepbound are limited to adults with a BMI of 30 or above, or 27 or above with a weight-related condition.
The new data is expected to prompt a review of those guidelines by the American Heart Association.
According to the CDC, approximately 42 percent of US adults qualify for GLP-1 treatment based on BMI criteria.
The majority are not currently receiving these medications due to cost and supply constraints.
Zepbound’s list price is $1,059 per month without insurance.
Medicare Part D began covering GLP-1 drugs for obesity in January 2026 following a rule change finalized in late 2025, but commercial insurance coverage remains inconsistent.
Eli Lilly’s savings card program caps out-of-pocket costs at $550 per month for commercially insured patients.
That figure remains out of reach for many lower-income households even with the savings program.
Generic GLP-1 options are not expected until patents expire, with tirzepatide patents running through at least 2036. Compounded versions remain available from some pharmacies but are not FDA-approved.
Tirzepatide is the active ingredient in Zepbound (for weight loss) and Mounjaro (for type 2 diabetes).
It activates both the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, producing greater average weight loss than semaglutide, which activates only the GLP-1 receptor.
Average weight loss in trials is 18-22 percent for tirzepatide versus 12-15 percent for semaglutide.
Medicare Part D covers Zepbound for obesity starting January 2026. Commercial insurance coverage varies significantly by plan and employer.
Many large employer plans still exclude GLP-1 drugs for obesity specifically, though some are adding coverage following updated cardiovascular data.
Current evidence suggests most of the weight lost during GLP-1 treatment returns within 12 months of stopping the medication.
Most cardiologists and endocrinologists treating patients with the drugs currently expect long-term, possibly lifetime, use for sustained benefit.
Sources: WHO – Health News | Reuters – Health | NPR – Health
Sources and Further Reading
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Trust Post Desk
A journalist and editor at TrustPost.org covering world and national news, technology updates and human-interest stories. They check every fact, interview sources in person or online, and aim to deliver clear, accurate reporting. Their work ranges from breaking news to in-depth features and daily newsletters. Outside the newsroom, they follow emerging trends and engage with readers on social media.
