GLP-1 Evidence

Not medical advice. A record of published research and our assessments of it. The limits

The dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide improves cardiovascular risk biomarkers in patients with type 2 diabetes: A post hoc analysis

Design
Clinical trial · Mixed outcome
Match to healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75
Different population[Auto] Participants had type 2 diabetes (age/BMI not reported in abstract).
Could weight loss explain it?
Possibly[Auto] Participants had obesity and/or type 2 diabetes and the abstract does not separate direct drug effects from weight loss or glycaemic improvement.
Study tier
Study tier 4[Auto] Hypothesis-generating design (auto-provisional).
Assessment
Version 1 · automatic, not yet reviewed by a person · Sep 13, 2026

Study facts come from the paper. Population match, weight-loss explanation and study tier are our judgments, made against the reference group of healthy normal-weight adults aged 55–75.

[Auto, unreviewed; last sentences of abstract] YKL-40, hsCRP, and ICAM-1 levels rapidly decreased within 4 weeks of treatment with tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg, whereas the decrease in leptin levels was more gradual and did not plateau by 26 weeks. In this hypothesis-generating exploratory analysis, tirzepatide decreased several biomarkers that have been associated with cardiovascular risk.

01Findings

What the study reported

Drugs
Dulaglutide, Tirzepatide
Dose
15 mg
Comparator
placebo
Primary outcome
Not extracted
Effect
Not extracted
95% confidence interval
Not extracted
Follow-up
26 weeks
Adverse events
Not extracted
Limitations
Auto-classified from abstract only; effect estimates, adverse events and limitations not extracted. Requires manual review.

Who was studied

Diabetes status
type 2 diabetes present (all or most)

Study quality details

Study design
Clinical trial (non-randomized or unclear)
Sample size
not extracted
Randomization
no
Blinding
not stated
Comparator
placebo
Follow up duration
26 weeks
Outcome type
mixed
Replication
not assessed (auto)
Consistency with other evidence
not assessed (auto)
Population applicability
INDIRECT
Statistical precision
not extracted
Risk of bias
not assessed (auto)
Funding conflicts
unclear
Peer review status
yes
02Funding

Funding and conflicts

Funding
not reported in abstract
Industry funded
Unclear
Manufacturer
Eli Lilly, Lilly
Sponsor role
not reported in abstract
Author conflicts
J.M.W., Y.L., M.J.L., A.L.C., L.M.B., D.A.R., A.H., K.L.D., and G.R. are employees and shareholders of Eli Lilly and Company. G.C. is a contractor for Advanced Testing Laboratories and works with Eli Lilly and Company.
Independent replication
unknown
Notes
Authors declare relationships with the drug's manufacturer: Eli Lilly, Eli Lilly

Funding is shown on every study and never used to score it.

03Claims

Claims this study bears on

04Source

The source, as retrieved

Abstract

In a phase 2 trial of once-weekly tirzepatide (1, 5, 10, or 15 mg), dulaglutide (1.5 mg), or placebo, the dual glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist tirzepatide dose-dependently reduced HbA1c and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes. In this post hoc analysis, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and cellular stress biomarkers were measured at baseline, 4, 12, and 26 weeks to evaluate the additional effects of tirzepatide on cardiovascular risk factors. At 26 weeks, tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg decreased YKL-40 (also known as chitinase-3 like-protein-1), intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), leptin, and growth differentiation factor 15 levels versus baseline, and YKL-40 and leptin levels versus placebo and dulaglutide. Tirzepatide 15 mg also decreased ICAM-1 levels versus placebo and dulaglutide, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels versus baseline and placebo, but not dulaglutide. GlycA, interleukin 6, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and N-terminal-pro hormone B-type natriuretic peptide levels were not significantly changed in any group. YKL-40, hsCRP, and ICAM-1 levels rapidly decreased within 4 weeks of treatment with tirzepatide 10 and 15 mg, whereas the decrease in leptin levels was more gradual and did not plateau by 26 weeks. In this hypothesis-generating exploratory analysis, tirzepatide decreased several biomarkers that have been associated with cardiovascular risk.

Where this record came from

SourceRetrievedIdentifier
pubmedSep 13, 202634542221
first ingestion