A new Penn Nursing study suggests that the weight-loss drug tirzepatide may cause fewer side effects like nausea and vomiting than the drug semaglutide. This research, published in Science Advances, was conducted using preclinical models to study the effects of the drugs.
The study found that while both drugs helped reduce food intake and body weight, tirzepatide led to significantly fewer side effects at similar doses.
Researchers believe this is because tirzepatide works on two different systems in the body, whereas semaglutide works on only one. The second system, called the GIP receptor, appears to help reduce the feelings of sickness.
“We are very encouraged by these findings, which suggest that tirzepatide’s unique action on GLP-1 and GIP receptors may offer a more tolerable option for patients experiencing severe nausea on GLP-1 drugs,” said Bart C. De Jonghe, Ph.D., Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Biobehavioral Health Sciences.
“Fewer gastrointestinal side effects is a real clinical need for effective and patient-friendly obesity and diabetes treatments.”
More information:
Tito Borner et al, Hypophagia and body weight loss by tirzepatide are accompanied by fewer GI adverse events compared to semaglutide in preclinical models, Science Advances (2025). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adu1589
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