Tirzepatide

Tirzepatide is a synthetic peptide that agonises two incretin receptors — GIP and GLP-1 — rather than GLP-1 alone. Incretins are gut hormones released in response to food that modulate insulin release and satiety signalling; engaging both receptors is the mechanism that distinguishes Tirzepatide from single-target GLP-1 compounds, and adding a third (glucagon) is what distinguishes Retatrutide from Tirzepatide.

It carries the largest completed evidence base of the compounds in this category. A DXA substudy of SURMOUNT-1 (Look et al., Diabetes Obes Metab 2025, n=160) measured body composition directly over 72 weeks and reported a 33.9% reduction in total fat mass against 8.2% on placebo, alongside a 21.3% reduction in body weight, with roughly three quarters of the loss being fat rather than lean mass. Note that the 33.9% is a FAT-MASS percentage — not the same quantity as a body-weight percentage.

Supplied as a 30 mg lyophilised vial, HPLC-verified with a batch Certificate of Analysis, for laboratory research purposes only. It is not an approved medicine in South Africa, is not prescribed or dispensed here, and is not for human use.