第一财经·2025-11-18 15:45Core Viewpoint - The competition in the weight-loss drug market is intensifying, with companies seeking new selling points and patient markets. Recent research on Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drug, tirzepatide, indicates its potential to temporarily reduce food cravings, which may inspire new developments in GLP-1 drugs [3][4]. Group 1: Research Findings - A recent study published in Nature Medicine shows that tirzepatide can temporarily lower food cravings in a patient, providing insights for the development of new GLP-1 drugs [3]. - The study monitored the brain activity of a patient with severe binge eating disorder, revealing that the drug initially suppressed signals of food craving in the brain's reward center, but this effect diminished after about five months [3][4]. - In contrast, other patients not treated with GLP-1 drugs exhibited typical increased activity in the reward center and frequent binge eating episodes [4]. Group 2: Market Implications - The findings may open new markets for GLP-1 drugs, as both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are actively marketing these drugs directly to consumers in the U.S. [4]. - Novo Nordisk's concept of "food noise," which refers to uncontrollable and persistent thoughts about food, is highlighted as a significant factor affecting the mental health and weight loss progress of overweight or obese patients [4]. - An endocrinologist noted that while the original mechanism of GLP-1 drugs includes appetite suppression and delayed gastric emptying, the recent findings could pave the way for further research into their effects on the brain [4].