Weekly tirzepatide vs placebo for pediatric obesity (6 to <12 years)
Official title: Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Tirzepatide Once Weekly Versus Placebo in Pediatric Participants 6 to Less Than 12 Years of Age Who Have Obesity: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Run by Eli Lilly and Company · NCT07817875 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether weekly tirzepatide can help children aged 6 to under 12 with obesity, in addition to healthy lifestyle guidance.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 3 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 6 Years to 11 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 150 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Eli Lilly and Company Industry-sponsored |
| Locations | 82 sites (Tucson, Arizona and 81 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 25, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 2029 |
| Study ends | December 2032 |
| Registry record updated | November 4, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07817875 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Children aged 6 to less than 12 years with obesity (BMI at or above the 95th percentile) who have tried structured lifestyle changes without achieving sufficient weight loss.
✕Probably not a fit
Those without obesity criteria or who do not tolerate or respond to tirzepatide may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
In this Phase 3, randomized trial, children with obesity who have not achieved sufficient weight loss after prior lifestyle efforts receive either tirzepatide or placebo weekly, alongside standard lifestyle advice, to evaluate safety, efficacy, and how the drug behaves in the body. The study is conducted under a master protocol and follows a 104-week primary period, with an option for an extended treatment phase after completion. Participants are monitored for growth, metabolic effects, and potential adverse events to determine tolerability and overall benefit. Eligible ages span Tanner stages 1 through 5, with weight and BMI criteria confirming obesity by age- and sex-specific standards.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, tirzepatide could offer an additional medical option to help reduce weight and improve health markers in pediatric obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies of similar GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists in pediatric obesity have shown potential benefits, but this approach is still being established in this age group.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: J4M-MC-PW02 * Are 6 to less than 12 years of age (Tanner stage 1 to 5 inclusive) * Have: * a body weight of ≥ 40 kilograms (kg) (88 pounds), and * been diagnosed with obesity, as defined by BMI equal to or above the 95th percentile for age and sex, on age- and sex-specific growth chart J4M-MC-PWMP * Have a history of at least 1 unsuccessful effort to lose sufficient body weight after participation in a structured lifestyle modification program (diet and exercise counseling for at least 3 months) prior to screening. * Obesity as defined by BMI equal to or above the 95th percentile for age and sex (on age- and gender-specific growth chart \[CDC-NCHS, 2022\]) Exclusion Criteria: J4M-MC-PW02 * Have a history of * proliferative diabetic retinopathy * diabetic macular edema, or * nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy that requires acute treatment J4M-MC-PWMP * Have undergone or plan to undergo weight reduction procedure during the study, such as, but not limited to: * gastric bypass * sleeve gastrectomy * restrictive bariatric surgery, such as Lap-Band® gastric banding, or * any other procedure intended to result in weight reduction. * Have a diagnosis that is a secondary cause of obesity or have a history of abrupt onset of obesity suggesting a secondary cause, such as hypothalamic, monogenetic, syndromic, or endocrine causes. * Have type 1 diabetes or history of ketoacidosis, or hyperosmolar state. * Have HbA1c \>9.0% (75 mmol/mol) as measured by central laboratory at screening. * Have a family or personal history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Syndrome Type 2.
Where it's running
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Carey Chronis MD Pediatric, Infant and Adolescent Medicine
Oxnard, California, United States Recruiting -
Lucas Research, Inc
Morehead City, North Carolina, United States Recruiting -
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona, United States Not yet recruiting -
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Loma Linda, California, United States Not yet recruiting -
Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States Not yet recruiting -
UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital
Los Angeles, California, United States Not yet recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Children's Hospital of Orange County
Orange, California, United States Not yet recruiting -
Children's Hospital Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States Not yet recruiting -
Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
New Haven, Connecticut, United States Not yet recruiting -
Florida Hospital- Center for Pediatric Research
Orlando, Florida, United States Not yet recruiting -
Nemours Children's Health
Orlando, Florida, United States Not yet recruiting -
All Childrens Hospital
St. Petersburg, Florida, United States Not yet recruiting -
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Center for Advanced Pediatrics
Atlanta, Georgia, United States Not yet recruiting -
Ann and Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Not yet recruiting -
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, Illinois, United States Not yet recruiting -
Riley Hospital for Children
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States Not yet recruiting -
Norton Children's Endocrinology
Louisville, Kentucky, United States Not yet recruiting -
Johns Hopkins Children's Center
Baltimore, Maryland, United States Not yet recruiting -
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Not yet recruiting -
Helen Devos Childrens' Hospital - PIN
Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States Not yet recruiting -
University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Not yet recruiting -
Mayo Clinic - PIN
Rochester, Minnesota, United States Not yet recruiting -
Children's Minnesota Pediatric Endocrinology Clinic & McNeeley Diabetes Center
Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States Not yet recruiting -
Children's Hospital & Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, United States Not yet recruiting -
UBMD Pediatrics
Buffalo, New York, United States Not yet recruiting -
UNC Children's Hospital
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States Not yet recruiting -
Duke Children's Primary Care
Durham, North Carolina, United States Not yet recruiting -
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States Not yet recruiting -
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, Ohio, United States Not yet recruiting -
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Columbus, Ohio, United States Not yet recruiting -
Oklahoma Childrens Memorial Hospital
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States Not yet recruiting -
Coastal Pediatric Associates
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Not yet recruiting -
Medical University of South Carolina Children Hospital
Charleston, South Carolina, United States Not yet recruiting -
Vanderbilt Health One Hundred Oaks
Nashville, Tennessee, United States Not yet recruiting -
Dell Children's Medical Center - PIN
Austin, Texas, United States Not yet recruiting -
Driscoll Children's Hospital
Corpus Christi, Texas, United States Not yet recruiting -
McGovern Medical School
Houston, Texas, United States Not yet recruiting -
Texas Childrens Hospital
Houston, Texas, United States Not yet recruiting -
VCU Health - Center for Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism
Richmond, Virginia, United States Not yet recruiting -
Seattle Children's Research Institute - Hughes Building - PIN
Seattle, Washington, United States Not yet recruiting -
MultiCare Health System - Mary Bridge Children's Health Center
Tacoma, Washington, United States Not yet recruiting -
Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc - PPDS
Brussels, Belgium Not yet recruiting -
UZ Brussel
Jette, Belgium Not yet recruiting -
UZ Leuven
Leuven, Belgium Not yet recruiting -
Shamir Medical Center
Beer Jacob, Israel Not yet recruiting -
Soroka Medical Center
Beersheba, Israel Not yet recruiting -
Rambam Health Care Campus
Haifa, Israel Not yet recruiting -
Shaare Zedek Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel Not yet recruiting -
Hadassah Medical Center
Jerusalem, Israel Not yet recruiting -
Schneider Children's Medical Center
Petah Tikva, Israel Not yet recruiting
+32 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Trial questions or participation questions: 1-877-CTLILLY (1-877-285-4559) or
- Email: LillyTrials@Lilly.com
- Phone: 1-317-615-4559
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.