What it means
GIP is made in the upper small intestine. Like GLP-1, it is an incretin: it helps the pancreas release more insulin when blood sugar rises after a meal.
Tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound, activates both the GIP receptor and the GLP-1 receptor. That dual action is the main design difference between tirzepatide and semaglutide, which acts on the GLP-1 receptor only.
Researchers are still working out exactly how much the GIP part adds to weight loss, appetite and tolerability. What is clear from the trials is the result: in head-to-head and separate studies, tirzepatide produced larger average weight loss than semaglutide.
Several newer drugs in development also target GIP, GLP-1 or the glucagon receptor in different combinations, so you will see this term more often in news about upcoming medicines.
Why it matters
GIP is the reason tirzepatide is called a dual agonist and why its trial results differ from semaglutide.
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