A study has found that adding the weight-loss and diabetes drug tirzepatide to standard care is associated with a reduced risk of major cardiovascular events in people with type 2 diabetes and existing heart disease.
The findings, reported by the BMJ, suggest that tirzepatide — sold under the brand name Mounjaro — may offer heart-protective benefits beyond its established role in managing blood sugar and body weight. The drug belongs to a class known as GIP/GLP-1 dual agonists (drugs that act on two gut hormone receptors to regulate insulin and appetite), which have attracted growing clinical interest for their effects on the heart and blood vessels.
The study looked specifically at patients already living with both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease — a combination that considerably raises the risk of events such as heart attack and stroke. Adding tirzepatide to their existing treatment was associated with a lower likelihood of those outcomes occurring.
The BMJ published linked commentary alongside the study, suggesting the findings are considered clinically relevant enough to prompt wider discussion among specialists.
Mounjaro is already available in the UK. It was approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for type 2 diabetes management and has more recently been licensed for weight loss in eligible adults. But its potential role in reducing cardiovascular risk in high-risk patients adds another dimension to how clinicians might consider prescribing it.
The underlying data is drawn from a randomised controlled trial, which provides stronger evidence of a causal relationship than observational research alone — though, as with all trial findings, independent replication and clinical review inform how results are applied in practice. Patients should not adjust their medication based on study findings alone.
Anyone with type 2 diabetes who has concerns about their heart health or current treatment should speak to their GP. For general health queries, NHS 111 is available by phone or online at any time.
Key information
- Speak to your GP if you have type 2 diabetes and are concerned about cardiovascular risk or your current medication
- Do not stop or change prescribed medication without medical advice
- NHS 111 is available 24 hours a day for general health queries
Source: @bmj_latest