The hit weight loss drug Wegoby has a new rival. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approved new drug for weight management It is a product called “Zepbound” developed by American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
This weekly injection is intended for adults who are overweight or obese and have at least one weight-related disease, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, is Already approved under the brand name Mounjaro It helps improve blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes and is widely prescribed off-label for weight loss purposes.
Zepbound and Mounjaro are similar to the well-known Wegovy and Ozempic, both manufactured by Danish company Novo Nordisk. All of these drugs mimic a hormone that occurs naturally in the body called GLP-1. GLP-1, produced in the intestines, lowers blood sugar levels, slows stomach emptying, and regulates appetite. Zepbound and Mounjaro also act on a similar hormone called GIP to reduce food intake.
GLP-1 drugs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but are increasingly being used for weight loss purposes. (Wegovy is indicated for weight management and Ozempic is indicated for diabetes, but can also be prescribed off-label for weight management.) Approximately 70% of American adults are obese or overweight; Most people are good at managing their weight. Associated health conditions.
Thanks to the growing demand for these drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy On FDA’s drug shortage list since March 2022. With demand outstripping production, Novo Nordisk is trying to limit the number of new people who can start taking Wigovy. The drug comes in preloaded pen syringes with various doses, and patients should start with a lower dose pen and gradually step up to higher doses. Pharmaceutical companies are Limiting the supply of low-dose injectables So you can focus on serving your current patients while working to increase your production capacity.
The FDA’s approval of Zepbound gives people looking to lose weight a new option. Like Ozempic and Wegovy, this one starts at a low dose and increases gradually.
Zepbound’s approval was based on a clinical trial by Eli Lilly in 2,539 adults who were obese or overweight and had weight-related medical problems other than diabetes. According to the company. In these studies, people who took Zepbound and also made dietary and exercise changes experienced greater weight loss over 72 weeks compared to people who took a placebo. At the highest dose, 15 milligrams, those who took Zepbound lost an average of 48 pounds. The lowest dose, 5 milligrams, led to an average weight loss of 34 pounds. On average, those who took the placebo lost 7 pounds.
Eli Lilly said one in three patients who took the highest dose of Zepbound lost more than 58 pounds (25% of their body weight), compared with 1.5% on a placebo. The average starting weight of the volunteers who participated in the trial was 231 pounds.
The company says some people taking Zepbound have reported gastrointestinal reactions, including nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, and abdominal pain.
in a statement, Eli Lilly representatives wrote that Zepbound is expected to be available in the US by the end of the year at a list price of $1,059.87 per month.wegobee It costs about $1,349 per month without insurance. Insurance usually covers the cost of diabetes treatment, but it may not cover medications for weight management. Eli Lilly announced that the company is introducing a commercial savings card program to allow those who could benefit from her Zepbound to access it.
Pharmaceutical companies are already working on developing tablet versions of GLP-1 drugs, which could make them even more appealing to patients. And with new data on the cardiovascular benefits of these drugs set to be presented at this weekend’s American Heart Association meeting, demand could surge even further.
