A major international research initiative has delivered a significant advance in the prevention of cardiovascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes. The study investigated the impact of tirzepatide – a medication widely used in diabetes care – on reducing cardiovascular risk. Among Central and Eastern European institutions, the University of Szeged was the only university to contribute to the publication of these findings. In the following article, Professor Tamás Várkonyi, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center of the University of Szeged, offers expert insight into the study’s significance and clinical implications.
A recent paper published in The New England Journal of Medicine, one of the world’s most highly regarded medical journals, lists Tamás Várkonyi, Professor and Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center, as a co-author. The international study examined the role of tirzepatide, a medication used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in reducing cardiovascular risk. The scientific significance of the research is underscored by its scale: conducted over a four-year period, the study involved more than 600 investigational sites across 30 countries and analyzed data from over 13,000 patients.
“We investigated a medication originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes,” explains Tamás Várkonyi, commenting on the study. “Tirzepatide is an advanced representative of a drug class that enhances the effects of hormone systems activated via the gastrointestinal tract. In people living with diabetes, the risk of cardiovascular disease is two to four times higher, which is why it is crucial to use every available therapeutic tool to reduce this risk.”
“The study’s primary endpoints included cardiovascular mortality, as well as the incidence of myocardial infarction and stroke. Patients in one treatment group received tirzepatide, while those in the other were treated with a therapy with previously established efficacy. The results showed that tirzepatide reduced the occurrence of these three major cardiovascular outcomes to the same extent as the comparator treatment. What makes this approach particularly novel is that tirzepatide is the first gut-acting medication capable of simultaneously enhancing the effects of two hormones. In addition, we assessed its impact on blood glucose levels, body weight, and blood lipids, observing marked improvements across all of these parameters,” Professor Várkonyi adds.
Treatment with tirzepatide resulted in an average weight loss exceeding 11 kilograms, substantially surpassing the reductions achieved with earlier therapies.
Prof. Dr. Tamás Várkonyi, Director of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Albert Szent‑Györgyi Clinical Center of SZTE. Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
The medication is administered once weekly via injection. In terms of safety, serious adverse events were reported only in a very small number of cases. The most frequently observed side effects were mild gastrointestinal symptoms – including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea – which typically diminished over time.
In the study, Tamás Várkonyi served as the national coordinator for Hungary, and patients from the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Clinical Center were also enrolled in the trial. According to the Director, being selected to participate represents a major recognition for both the University of Szeged and the Department, as it “also provides valuable feedback on the effectiveness of our previous clinical pharmacology studies.” Reflecting the international scope of the research, the publication was authored by researchers from North America, Australia, and Europe, with Tamás Várkonyi being the only co-author from Central or Eastern Europe. Given the scale of the study and the long-standing scientific interest in such research, the findings are expected to achieve a high citation rate. This is further reinforced by the standing of the journal in which the study was published. Founded in 1812, The New England Journal of Medicine is one of the world’s oldest and most widely recognized medical journals and, with a Q1 classification and an impact factor of 78.5, is widely regarded as a leading forum in international scientific publishing.
“Another effective tool has now become available. When used alongside existing therapies, it can significantly improve patients’ quality of life,” says Tamás Várkonyi. “Preventing cardiovascular disease is crucial not only for individual health, but also from a broader social and economic perspective. In this sense, the study represents a milestone both in scientific research and in everyday clinical practice.”
Original Hungarian article: Imre Vida-Szűcs
Photo: Ádám Kovács-Jerney
