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Mounjaro vs Glucophage

Tirzepatide  ·  Metformin

A first-line oral tablet against a dual-incretin injection: two very different starting points for type-2 diabetes, with very different effects on weight.

At a glance

MounjaroTirzepatide
GlucophageMetformin
Brand names
Mounjaro / Zepbound
Glucophage
Drug class
GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
Biguanide
Route
Subcutaneous
Not listed
Marketed by
Eli Lilly
EMD Serono (Merck KGaA)
First FDA approval
13 May 2022
3 Mar 1995
US shortage
Not listed
Not listed

Key differences

What each one treats

MounjaroTirzepatide

MOUNJARO ® is indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. MOUNJARO ® is a glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) receptor and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults and pediatric patients 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. ( 1 )

GlucophageMetformin

The first-line oral medicine for type-2 diabetes.

How each one works

MounjaroGIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist

12.1 Mechanism of Action Tirzepatide is a GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist. It contains a C20 fatty diacid that enables albumin binding and prolongs the half-life. Tirzepatide selectively binds to and activates both the GIP and GLP-1 receptors, the targets for native GIP and GLP-1. Tirzepatide enhances first- and second-phase insulin secretion, and reduces glucagon levels, both in a glucose-dependent manner.

GlucophageBiguanide

The first-line oral medicine for type-2 diabetes.

Related comparisons

Ozempic VS Mounjaro Mounjaro VS Trulicity Mounjaro VS Victoza Mounjaro VS Byetta Ozempic VS Glucophage Jardiance VS Glucophage

Read more

Mounjaro profile Glucophage profile GLP-1 Agonists All comparisons
This is not medical advice, and not a recommendation of one drug over the other.

Which medicine is right for a given person depends on their diagnosis, other conditions, other medicines, kidney and liver function, pregnancy, and cost or reimbursement — none of which this page knows. Two drugs in the same class are not automatically interchangeable. Never start, stop or switch a prescription medicine on the basis of a web page; that decision belongs to you and your clinician or pharmacist.

Class and summary text is written by the Priya Life Science editorial team. Label, mechanism, route, manufacturer and approval data come from the U.S. FDA via the openFDA API; shortage status from the FDA Drug Shortage Database. Approvals, indications and brand names differ between the US, EU/Ireland (EMA/HPRA) and other regions — a drug approved in one may not be approved, or may carry a different name, in another.