Fatigue, joint pain, headaches, and cognitive issues often described as “brain fog” are among the lingering effects many people experience long after recovering from COVID-19. This condition, known as long COVID, can persist for months or even years—and so far, there’s no proven treatment. But researchers are now exploring an unexpected source of hope: a diabetes and obesity drug called tirzepatide.What Is Tirzepatide?Tirzepatide is a prescription injectable medication primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes and support chronic weight management in adults who are obese or overweight with a related condition. It is sold under two brand names: Mounjaro, used for diabetes, and Zepbound, approved for weight loss.Can Weight Loss Drugs Help Long COVID Patients Recover?In a recent survey led by Dr. Julia Moore Vogel, a program director at Scripps Research, patients with long COVID who were prescribed tirzepatide reported striking results. Between 60% and 90% of participants said their symptoms improved.“I was expecting only about 30% to show improvement,” Vogel said. “If it’s truly between 60% and 90%, that would be remarkable.”Encouraged by these early findings, Vogel and her team have launched a clinical trial at Scripps Research to test the drug’s potential benefits more rigorously. The trial, currently a quarter of the way through recruitment, aims to enroll 1,000 participants with long COVID. Half will receive tirzepatide, while the other half will take a placebo.A Drug with Far-Reaching EffectsTirzepatide, developed by Eli Lilly, belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, already popular for their effectiveness in treating obesity and type 2 diabetes. According to Dr. Eric Topol, co-director of the Scripps clinical trial and founder of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, this class of medications could have much broader applications.“When I say potent, I mean across multiple systems,” Topol explained. “Not just weight loss, but also benefits for the heart, liver, kidneys, migraine headaches, even rheumatoid arthritis and addiction.”Eli Lilly is supplying the drug for the study, while the project is being funded by the Schmidt Institute for Long COVID (SILC).A First-of-Its-Kind Virtual TrialAccording to Dr. John Redd, CEO of SILC, the Scripps study is breaking new ground with its fully remote trial design.“This is the first long COVID clinical trial that allows patients to participate entirely from home,” Redd said. “Medication is shipped directly to participants, and all assessments are conducted virtually. It opens the door for patients across the U.S. to take part.”Off-Label Use and Access ChallengesWhile tirzepatide is already FDA-approved for diabetes and weight loss, its use for long COVID remains experimental. Vogel noted that “off-label” use of approved drugs is common in medicine, but coverage barriers can limit access.“The challenge for many patients will be insurance,” she explained. “Companies will likely require stronger data before agreeing to cover such an expensive medication.”A Researcher with Personal StakesFor Vogel, this research is deeply personal. She has lived with long COVID for five years, an experience that has left her largely homebound, as per KPBS News,“No treatment I’ve tried has helped,” she shared. “When I saw that 60 to 90 percent of people reported improvement on tirzepatide, I was blown away. I really hope the data confirms it.”The Scripps team is also studying body-monitor data to track how patients’ symptoms change over time, hoping to gain clearer insights into how and why tirzepatide might work.Though it’s still early, the findings have offered a glimmer of optimism for millions struggling with the long-term effects of COVID-19. If tirzepatide’s promise holds true, it could mark a significant step toward understanding and treating one of the pandemic’s most stubborn mysteries.
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