Epigenetic aging clocks in tirzepatide-treated adults: SURMOUNT-5 sub-study (ARDD 2026 conference presentation, unpublished)

Duffin K (presenter), Eli Lilly and Company

1. 01

   71 participants with paired baseline and week-72 whole-blood methylation data (82 after QC); no placebo or control arm

2. 02

   All 15 age-unit clocks showed less aging than the ~1.38 years elapsed, but only two reached statistical significance (median ~0.7 and ~1.1 years)

3. 03

   DunedinPACE median fell from 1.13 to 1.08; organ clocks (immune, kidney, liver, cardiovascular) trended younger

4. 04

   Lilly described the findings as preliminary and hypothesis-generating

Study Design

conference_presentation

Sample Size

71 subjects

Study Duration

72 weeks

Methodology

Single-arm paired pre/post analysis; methylation generated independently by two labs (Zymo, TruDiagnostic)

Limitations

Unpublished; no control arm; follow-up short relative to clock measurement error; only 2 of 15 clocks significant; some clock signals discordant; clocks not trained on RCT or longitudinal intervention data; clock changes are not clinical outcomes; details taken from secondary coverage of a company talk.