Excellent news comes from an Italian study in the fight against diabetes and not only that: an ad hoc drug created to combat chronic blood disease would actually be able to protect against heart disease and also be an excellent ally against obesity. Three benefits in one, one would think, thanks to Tirzepatide (Tzt) already on the market in the United States.
I study
Much of the credit goes to some Italian researchers led by prof. Giuseppe Paolisso, Professor of Internal Medicine at the Vanvitelli University of Naples and professor at UniCamillus in Rome. The study is published in the scientific journal Cardiovascular Diabetology with the title “Evidence that tirzepatide protects against diabetes-related heart damage.” To reach these conclusions, the researchers carried out a meta-analysis on 7778 adult patients regardless of their diabetes status and a three-phase approach. “Tzt showed a cardiac effect protective by preventing cell death, fibrosis and hypertrophy with a potential positive impact on cardiac remodelling”, the researchers explain.
What happens to patients
Heart failure is the most frequent and dangerous cardiac complication in patients with type 2 diabetes: drugs already on the market with the active ingredient of liraglutide and semaglutide they reduce the risk of heart failure but tirzepatide seems to have even more beneficial effects although the data available to scholars is not yet enormous. “We also have evidence that Tirzepatide promotes cell proliferation and increased cell viability”: for this reason scholars add that the Tzt “may reduce the risk of diabetes-related heart damage, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic option for clinical trials in the management of heart failure.”.
The benefits against obesity
As said at the beginning, however, it would not end here: in addition to cardiac protection, this new drug would be a also an excellent ally against obesity. The professor. Paolisso explained toAdnKronos That “It is also associated with notable anti-obesity effects” as well as diabetes-induced heart disease. For these two reasons, the new drug is especially suitable for the treatment of those who suffer from diabetes 2. “Everyone agrees that it will replace semaglutide“, explains the expert, alluding to the active ingredient of the diabetes drug Ozempic and its variant used for weight loss called Wegovy, “as a weight loss drug, and which could soon become the most effective principle for treating obesity and diabetes, as well as for preventing cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in type 2 diabetic patients“.
What are the risks
The evidence is there but the European and Italian regulatory bodies, unlike the United States, have not yet approved this drug: it is known that the American FDA is increasingly faster in authorizing new protocols, the EMA and the AIFA they’re probably waiting new scientific evidence (side effects, etc.) before starting the marketing of Tirzepatide.
Hope against Parkinson’s
Still on the subject of drugs created with the aim of blocking diabetes, the lixisenatide it would have effects also beneficial in Parkinson’s patients: the study, published in the journal Nejm“explains its usefulness”when we do not have effective drugs in slowing down the progression“. Even if the data are preliminary and on a few patients they are already very encouraging as underlined by Prof. Roberto Burioni, professor of microbiology and virology at the Vita-Salute San Raffaele University of Milan.
Lixisenatide – an active ingredient belonging to the class of Glp-1 hormone analogues, antidiabetics with a slimming effect – has shown beneficial effects by reducing” the progression of motor disability in patients with Parkinson’s diagnosed less than 3 years previously who were taking therapies to control the symptoms of the disease and did not yet have motor complications”.
