Medical Dialogues reported on 5 October 2026 that a phase 2b study presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) 2026 annual meeting in Milan found mean weight loss of up to 23.3% at 48 weeks with eloraTZP, an investigational Eli Lilly combination [1]. The combination pairs eloralintide with tirzepatide and was studied in 367 adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity or overweight [1]. The report also describes substantial improvements in blood sugar control [1].
What the two drugs target
Amylin is a hormone released from pancreatic beta cells, while GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) are gut hormones [1]. All three are released after eating, and each acts through its own receptor to help regulate hunger and blood sugar [1]. The report describes eloralintide as a selective amylin receptor agonist and tirzepatide as a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist [1]. In the study, the two drugs were given as two separate pen injections [1].
The reported results
Participants started at an average weight of 105.4 kg [1]. The report states that all four dose combinations met their primary and secondary endpoints at 48 weeks, covering weight loss and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), a blood measure of blood sugar control [1]. The report gives figures for the lowest and highest dose combinations [1].
- Lowest combination (eloralintide 3 mg plus tirzepatide 5 mg): mean weight loss of 13.2% (13.9 kg), and a mean HbA1c reduction of 2.2% from an average baseline of 8.1% [1].
- Highest combination (eloralintide 9 mg plus tirzepatide 15 mg): mean weight loss of 23.3% (24.6 kg), and a mean HbA1c reduction of 2.9% [1].
The most common adverse events were gastrointestinal [1]. They were generally mild or moderate and occurred mainly during dose escalation, the period when doses are stepped up [1]. These events were more frequent in the combination arms than with eloralintide or tirzepatide given alone [1].
Why it matters to these readers
The report describes adults with both type 2 diabetes and excess weight as a population in which substantial, sustained weight loss has been difficult to achieve [1]. The lead author, Dr Liana K. Billings, framed the rationale this way: "Obesity and type 2 diabetes are interconnected, and we are seeing the potential benefit of targeting multiple hormonal pathways to address both" [1]. For adults considering medical weight loss, and for the clinicians who refer them, the report concerns a medication that remains investigational [1]. AthleticsMD offers ShredRx physician-guided medical weight loss and functional and preventive medicine in Columbia and Laurel/Fort Meade, Maryland [F].
What to watch next
- Full data: the news report gives no confidence intervals, p-values or discontinuation rates, and no weight or HbA1c figures for the eloralintide-only or tirzepatide-only arms, so the added effect of combining them cannot be judged from this account [1].
- Tolerability: gastrointestinal events were more common with the combination, so fuller safety reporting will matter [1].
- Durability: results are reported at 48 weeks, and the report does not describe what happens after that point [1].
- Practicality: the regimen used two separate pen injections [1].
Limitations
This piece relies on a secondary news report of a conference presentation, not on a peer-reviewed full publication [1]. The report does not describe randomization, blinding or whether a placebo group was included, so the strength of the comparisons cannot be assessed from it [1]. The study enrolled only adults with type 2 diabetes and obesity or overweight, so the findings do not speak to people without diabetes [1].
References
- medicaldialogues.in. EloraTirzepetide combo Achieves Up to 23.3% Weight Loss in Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes: phase 2b study. Accessed October 5, 2026. https://medicaldialogues.in/diabetes-endocrinology/news/eloratirzepetide-combo-achieves-up-to-233-weight-loss-in-obesity-and-type-2-diabetes-phase-2b-study-180520