If you want to help in addition to signing this petition, emailing your local MP, the health minister or Eli Lilly (au_media@lilly.com) with your own stories will help a lot!

I live with severe insulin resistance—my insulin levels are over 970, while "severe" is typically characterized by levels between 200 and 300. This means I am living a life that is perpetually at risk, characterized by extreme health challenges that most people will never have to experience. Unfortunately, standard treatments have proven ineffective for my condition, leaving me with limited options. The only medication that has shown promise is tirzepatide (Mounjaro), but it is currently not listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for treating insulin resistance. This exclusion makes it impossible for me to afford it on my Disability Support Pension (DSP). Without tirzepatide, I am forced to live without the possibility of a life without the constant threat of my condition worsening. 

Tirzepatide is not just another medication; it is a lifeline for people like me who are battling severe insulin resistance every day. It has the power to change lives by effectively managing insulin levels that are dangerously high, and allowing patients to possibly return to a semblance of normalcy in their daily lives. However, its prohibitively high cost, when it's not covered by the PBS, puts it out of reach for myself and many others.

In Australia, the PBS plays a crucial role in providing cost-effective medications to people who need them most. By subsidizing drugs, it ensures that life-saving medications are accessible to everyone, regardless of their financial situation. Including tirzepatide on the PBS for severe insulin resistance would make this vital medication accessible to all Australians suffering from this debilitating condition, enabling them to lead healthier, more stable lives.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, diabetes affects approximately 1.2 million Australians, and insulin resistance is a significant precursor to the condition. The availability of cutting-edge treatment options like tirzepatide is critical in managing and potentially reducing the burden of insulin resistance and related diseases. By adding tirzepatide to the PBS, we could profoundly impact public health and help reduce the long-term economic burden on the healthcare system.

I implore the decision-makers to consider the lives that are being held in balance, like mine, and extend the PBS to cover tirzepatide for severe insulin resistance. This change is not optional; it is a necessity for countless individuals facing this life-altering condition.

Please sign this petition to urge the government to take action and add tirzepatide to the PBS, ensuring that everyone who needs this medication can access it. Your support could help save lives and change the future for many Australians facing severe insulin resistance.

Proof of concept:

SURPASS-2 (T2D, head-to-head vs semaglutide)
“In SURPASS-2, tirzepatide improved HOMA-IR and β-cell function to a significantly greater extent than semaglutide.”
Direct link: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/7/1745/7585180?login=false
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae038. (Oxford Academic)

SURMOUNT-1 post-hoc (obesity without diabetes)
“Tirzepatide was associated with improved insulin sensitivity and β-cell function, partly independent of weight loss.”
Direct link: https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/48/9/1622/163002/Tirzepatide-Treatment-and-Associated-Changes-in
DOI: 10.2337/dc25-0763. (Diabetes Journals)

Clamp study (gold-standard measure of insulin sensitivity)
“GIR increased from 3.21 to 5.16 mg·min⁻¹·kg⁻¹ (p<0.001), indicating early insulin-sensitising effects not solely due to weight loss.”
Direct link: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-025-06493-5
DOI: 10.1007/s00125-025-06493-5. (SpringerLink)

Meal-test analysis (physiologic setting)
“During a mixed-meal test, tirzepatide showed greater improvements in β-cell function indices and insulin sensitivity vs semaglutide/placebo.”
Direct link: https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/109/12/3046/7682337?login=false
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae319. (Oxford Academic)

Mechanistic/biological plausibility (review)

Dual GIP/GLP-1 agonism improves adipose and hepatic signalling, inflammation, and islet function—a credible pathway for reducing insulin resistance.
Direct link: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1402583/full
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1402583. (Frontiers)

Limitations 
Most trials to date involve obesity and/or type 2 diabetes populations or are post-hoc analyses. A dedicated trial in severe insulin resistance is still needed. Nonetheless, across multiple study designs (including clamp methodology) tirzepatide consistently improves insulin sensitivity and β-cell function, supporting the proof-of-concept for earlier access in severe insulin resistance.