FDA Approves New Weight Loss Drug Zepbound To Hit the Market

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given the green light to a new weight loss drug, Zepbound (tirzepatide), approving it for chronic weight management in adults.

This new treatment targets individuals who are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kilograms per square meter (kg/m2) or higher, or those who are overweight (BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher) with at least one weight-related condition, such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. This approval is given with the recommendation that Zepbound should be incorporated as part of a wider management plan that includes a “reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.”

The active ingredient in Zepbound, tirzepatide, has already received approval under the brand name Mounjaro. Tirzepatide is endorsed to be utilized along with a balanced diet and regular exercise to control blood sugar levels in adults suffering from type 2 diabetes mellitus. With the latest FDA approval, tirzepatide further extends its therapeutic reach into the realm of chronic weight management.

Zepbound, a weekly injectable drug, successfully reduces appetite and food intake by stimulating hormone receptors from the intestine. The dosage, ramped up gradually to a maximum of 15 mg weekly, has demonstrated significant efficacy in long-term weight management when combined with a lower-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

This was confirmed in two extensive double-blind, placebo-controlled studies involving adults with obesity and overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition. Participants were given either Zepbound or placebo injections weekly, with weight reduction monitored over 72 weeks. Results showed a considerable decrease in body weight across all dosages of Zepbound compared to the placebo group, with a higher proportion of Zepbound recipients achieving at least 5% weight reduction.

In a recent press release, Eli Lilly announced that the company’s new drug, Zepbound, will be priced at approximately $1,060 per month before insurance. The medication will be available in pharmacies following the Thanksgiving holiday. Another drug, Mounjaro, carries a list price of $1,023 monthly prior to insurance deductions, according to CNN.

In related news, Ozempic and Wegovy, drugs manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, are essentially the same medication but differ in prices and dosage quantities before insurance. Ozempic is priced at $936 per month before insurance, while the higher-dosed Wegovy comes in at $1,349 monthly.