Is Mounjaro better than Wegovy (Ozempic)? A new study says 'Yes'

Simon Edward • 5 December 2024

A new clinical trial directly compares Wegovy and Mounjaro. Learn what this means for doctors and patients.



A new clinical trial directly compares Wegovy and Mounjaro. Learn what this means for doctors and patients.

The weight loss drugs Wegovy (Ozempic)* and Mounjaro have recently enjoyed a surge in popularity.


But while both medications have won their fair share of headlines, Mounjaro has begun to dominate the conversation. As this Google Trends graph shows, search interest started to shift in April 2024 – and now, interest in Mounjaro far outweighs interest in Wegovy.


This is despite Wegovy having a head start. Wegovy was approved as a weight loss treatment in the UK in September 2023, while Mounjaro followed in January 2024.


Are more people searching for Mounjaro because Mounjaro is better than Wegovy?


Separate clinical trials have suggested that Mounjaro outperforms Wegovy in terms of total weight loss. Until recently, however, we've had no data that directly compare the new medications.


But now, we can say with certainty that Mounjaro is more effective than Wegovy. And it's all thanks to a new
study announced yesterday by Mounjaro's manufacturer, Eli Lilly.


What does the study show?


The study is the latest in a series of clinical trials called 'SURMOUNT'. These trials are sponsored by Eli Lilly and aim to investigate Mounjaro's potential as a weight loss treatment.


Known as 'SURMOUNT-5', this new trial saw participants randomly selected to begin treatment with Wegovy or Zepbound – the US brand name for Mounjaro.


After 72 weeks of treatment:


  • Participants taking Zepbound lost 20.2% of their starting weight, on average.
  • Those taking Wegovy lost an average of 13.7%.


As the study says, this means "Zepbound (tirzepatide) provided a
47% greater relative weight loss compared to Wegovy (semaglutide).


What's special about the new study?


A 47% increase in weight loss is nothing to sniff at. But these results were hardly unexpected.


Separate clinical trials have already suggested that Mounjaro outperforms Wegovy for weight loss.


  • In 2022's SURMOUNT-1 trial, participants who took the highest dose of Mounjaro lost an average of 21% of their starting weight.¹
  • In the STEP 1 trial from 2021, participants who took the highest dose of Wegovy lost an average of 14.9% of their starting weight.²


However, these are separate trials with separate parameters. Based on these results alone, we can't say 'Mounjaro is definitely better than Wegovy' because the data aren't directly comparable.


That's why the SURMOUNT-5 trial is so significant. It's the first study that pits the two medications against one another under identical conditions.


This means there's now very little room for doubt. Previously, small differences between the Mounjaro and Wegovy studies made direct comparisons difficult. But now we finally have data that demonstrate a clear advantage for Mounjaro.


What does this mean for SemaPen?


While Mounjaro is now cemented as the more effective medication, we know it's not for everyone.


Mounjaro and Wegovy are part of the same family of drugs but have several important differences. They work in different ways, have different dosing schedules and can produce different
side effects.


That's why we'll continue to offer
Mounjaro and Wegovy treatment programmes. This way, our subscribers can choose the medication that best fits their needs and circumstances.


Want to learn more about
injectable weight loss medications? Our expert guides are a good place to start.


* Ozempic and Wegovy are drugs with the same active ingredient (semaglutide). However, Wegovy is approved as a weight loss treatment in the UK, while Ozempic is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes.


Sources


1. Jastreboff, A.M. et al. (2022) "Tirzepatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Obesity" New England Journal of Medicine, 387(3)
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206038


2. Wilding, J.P.H. et al. (2021) "Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity" New England Journal of Medicine, 384(11)
https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2032183

 Ready to try Wegovy? Get the key facts so you know what to do at each step of your weight loss
by Simon Edward 21 April 2025
Ready to try Wegovy? Get the key facts so you know what to do at each step of your weight loss journey.
Learn what to do if Mounjaro's not working for you. Here are 6 expert tips from the SemaPen team.
by Simon Edward 18 April 2025
Learn what to do if Mounjaro's not working for you. Here are 6 expert tips from the SemaPen team.
Can semaglutide help patients control their blood pressure? Join us as we look at the latest
by Simon Edward 16 April 2025
Can semaglutide help patients control their blood pressure? Join us as we look at the latest evidence.
New evidence suggests GLP-1 weight loss drugs may cut dementia risk. Get the full story
by Simon Edward 14 April 2025
New evidence suggests GLP-1 weight loss drugs may cut dementia risk. Get the full story in our explainer.
You may have heard about 'Ozempic face' or 'Wegovy face'. But is it real? Get the facts in our guide
by Simon Edward 11 April 2025
You may have heard about 'Ozempic face' or 'Wegovy face'. But is it real? Get the facts in our guide.
Obesity is on the rise. But what's causing this global crisis? Join us as we explore the real causes
by Simon Edward 9 April 2025
Obesity is on the rise. But what's causing this global crisis? Join us as we explore the real causes of obesity.
Microdosing Ozempic is sparking buzz online – but is it safe or supported by research?
by Simon Edward 7 April 2025
Microdosing Ozempic is sparking buzz online – but is it safe or supported by research? Get the straight facts.
Are you experiencing 'Mounjaro fatigue'? Learn why tirzepatide can cause tiredness and what to do
by Simon Edward 4 April 2025
Are you experiencing 'Mounjaro fatigue'? Learn why tirzepatide can cause tiredness and what to do about it.
Should you stop taking weight loss drugs before bariatric surgery? Get the latest advice
by Simon Edward 31 March 2025
Should you stop taking weight loss drugs before bariatric surgery? Get the latest advice from our experts.
by Simon Edward 28 March 2025
A gene found in dogs is helping to explain the genetic causes of obesity in humans. Let's take a closer look. 
More posts