Endoscopic Procedure Shows Promise for Patients Stopping Tirzepatide

Interim results from a clinical trial suggest an outpatient endoscopic procedure can help patients avoid weight regain after they discontinue tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

Trial design and interim findings

The trial, sponsored by Fractyl Health, is enrolling more than 300 patients who had each lost at least 15% of their body weight, or about 40 pounds (18 kilograms), using tirzepatide before discontinuing the medication [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/]. Participants either underwent duodenal mucosal resurfacing, a procedure used to improve blood sugar control in type 2 diabetes, or a sham procedure [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

Results from the first 45 patients showed that those who received the sham procedure regained 40% more weight than the treatment group at six months [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/]. Patients who had the most tissue resurfaced maintained over 80% of their weight loss, regaining about 7 pounds (3.2 kg) on average, roughly half the weight regained by the control group [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

How the procedure works

Duodenal mucosal resurfacing uses heat to destroy the interior surface of the duodenum, allowing regeneration of healthier tissue and "resetting" of metabolism to a post-tirzepatide weight [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/]. Researchers explained that long-term high-fat, high-sugar diets can alter the lining of the duodenum, changing how the gut responds to food and affecting hormone production [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

The procedure is approved for type 2 diabetes patients in Europe but remains experimental in the United States [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/]. Reuters did not report on a Canadian regulatory pathway. Study leader Dr. Shelby Sullivan of the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine said the findings indicate the minimally invasive procedure may provide lasting weight-loss maintenance [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

Why discontinuation matters

Sullivan noted that many patients stop GLP-1 medications because of cost, side effects, or reluctance to take a drug long term [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/]. Fractyl Health said it expects to release six-month data on the entire study population and apply for regulatory approval by the end of 2026, with findings to be presented at the upcoming Digestive Diseases Week meeting in Chicago [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

Canadian tirzepatide context

Tirzepatide is sold in Canada as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound for chronic weight management [Source: walkin.ca/blog/zepbound-canada/]. Zepbound was approved by Health Canada on May 13, 2025, and Eli Lilly launched the medication at Canadian pharmacies on July 9, 2025 [Source: walkin.ca/blog/zepbound-canada/]. In Canada, Zepbound is sold exclusively as the KwikPen, a multi-dose prefilled pen containing four weekly doses [Source: walkin.ca/blog/zepbound-canada/].

Current Canadian pharmacy pricing on GLP1Prices.ca shows Mounjaro ranging from $280 to $813 CAD and Zepbound from $271.62 to $609 CAD per monthly supply. Patients considering any GLP-1 therapy can review our insurance coverage checker, the generic semaglutide tracker, and the FAQ for additional information. Semaglutide-based products, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus, were not part of the Fractyl trial, which focused on tirzepatide discontinuation [Source: reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/procedure-treat-type-2-diabetes-helps-keep-off-weight-after-patients-stop-glp-1-2026-04-24/].

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.