INTRODUCTION: The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (RA) have 
increasingly gained prominence in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) based 
on their glycemic benefits and favorable body weight and cardiorenal effects. 
Despite this, continued development of therapeutics with superior efficacy is 
important to help address persistent challenges in the attainment of metabolic 
goals in many patients with T2D.
AREAS COVERED: Tirzepatide is an unimolecular dual glucose-dependent 
insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP)/GLP-1 RA in development for the treatment of 
T2D. This review summarizes key characteristics of tirzepatide and Phase 1 and 
Phase 2 clinical trial efficacy and safety results. Additionally, it provides an 
overview of the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial program in T2D and briefly 
summarizes recently initiated studies in patients with obesity and nonalcoholic 
steatohepatitis. Information in this review comes primarily from published 
clinical trials, manufacturer's websites, and ClinicalTrials.gov.
EXPERT OPINION: Based on data from Phase 2 trials, tirzepatide has the potential 
to be the most efficacious therapy in T2D with respect to both glucose and body 
weight control. Data from the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial program should 
start to become available in late 2020 and will determine the future course of 
this promising therapeutic agent.