Incretin-based therapy of metabolic disease.

Recent studies show that incretin hormone analogues effectively control blood glucose while producing major weight losses and reducing the risk of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke and kidney function impairment. Furthermore, the risk of dementia and cognitive impairment is reduced. A monomolecular coagonist (tirzepatide) of receptors for both incretin hormones (glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) produced HbA1c values below 5.7% in 50% of the treated patients and weight losses exceeding 20% in obese individuals. These new agents will radically change our approach to the treatment of T2DM and obesity alike.