In a late-stage study, Eli Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound reduced the risk of heart failure.

• According to late-stage trial data, patients with a common type of heart failure and obesity experienced benefits from Eli Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound.
• The research supports the idea that GLP-1 drugs, such as Zepbound, have additional health benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar regulation.
• Patients who received Zepbound had a 38% lower risk of being hospitalized, needing to increase their heart failure medication, or dying due to heart complications compared to those who received a placebo.

According to data released by the company on Thursday, Zepbound, its weight loss drug, demonstrated benefits in patients with heart failure and obesity.

The research supports the idea that GLP-1 drugs, such as Zepbound, may have additional health benefits beyond weight loss and blood sugar regulation, which could increase insurance coverage for these treatments.

Eli Lilly intends to submit the findings from its phase three trial to regulatory bodies in the U.S. and other countries later this year.

Shares of Eli Lilly rose more than 3% in premarket trading Thursday.

The study found that patients who took Zepbound were 38% less likely to be hospitalized, need to increase their heart failure medication or die because of heart complications compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, Zepbound significantly improved heart failure symptoms and physical limitations, Eli Lilly announced in a release.

Over a period of two years, the trial monitored more than 700 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, or HFpEF, and obesity, some of whom also had diabetes.

HFpEF is a condition where the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, resulting in a "high burden" of symptoms and physical limitations that affect a patient's daily life, including fatigue, shortness of breath, and a lower ability to exercise, among other issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 6.7 million adults aged 20 and above in the U.S. have heart failure.

Nearly 60% of patients in the U.S. with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) also have obesity, according to Eli Lilly's estimates.

The safety data for Zepbound was consistent with previous studies of the drug, with the most common side effects being gastrointestinal, such as nausea and diarrhea, and of mild to moderate severity.

At an upcoming medical meeting, Eli Lilly will present the data and submit it for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical giant's main rival in the GLP-1 market, is currently leading the way.

In April, the Food and Drug Administration approved Wegovy for use in treating patients with HFpEF and for reducing the risk of serious heart complications. Earlier this year, the company submitted an application for the drug's use in treating patients with HFpEF.

Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been researching their respective GLP-1 drugs in patients with various conditions, including chronic kidney disease and fatty liver disease. These drugs work by mimicking hormones produced in the gut to control a person's appetite and blood sugar levels.

While Zepbound targets both GLP-1 and GIP hormone receptors, Wegovy only targets GLP-1.