INDIANA, USA — A new injectable drug in the same family as Ozempic could become part of more weight management plans at a cheaper price than its predecessors.
Zepbound is a weight loss drug that was approved by the Federal Drug Administration on Wednesday. It joins Ozempic and Wegovy as potential tools people seeking to manage their weight can turn to.
Around 70% of American adults have obesity or are overweight, and many of those who are overweight also have a weight-related condition. Losing 5% to 10% of body weight through diet and exercise has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in adults with obesity, according to the FDA. Patients involved in clinical trials of Zepbound prior to the drug’s FDA approval lost more than that throughout the trial period.
If you’re interested in possibly taking this drug to aid in weight management, here’s what to know.
Who should take Zepbound?
Zepbound injections will be available for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, which is defined by the FDA as adults with a body mass index of 30 kilograms per square meter or greater.
It will also be available for people who are overweight, with a body mass index of 27 kilograms or greater and have at least one weight-related condition, like high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes.
Tirepatide is the active ingredient in Zepbound. It is already approved under the trade name Mounajaro and is to be used alongside diet and exercise to help improve blood sugar, or glucose, in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Both Ozempic and Zepbound, are injectable. But while Ozempic was created to help people with Type 2 diabetes specifically, Zepbound is for weight management making it similar to Wegovy.
How was the FDA approval made?
The FDA approval was made following final results from a clinic trial. A study of 2,539 adults with obesity, or excess weight and weight related medical problems not including diabetes. People involved in the trial who took Zepbound alongside a healthy diet and exercise lost “a substantial amount of weight” compared to a placebo group at 72 weeks, according to the FDA.
At 15 mg, the highest dose, participants taking Zepbound lost 48 pounds on average, while people lost an average of 34 pounds on the lowest 5 mg dose. Placebo participants lost 7 pounds.
The trial found 1 in 3 patients who took Zepbound at the highest dose lost over 58 pounds, or about 25% of their body weight. The placebo group lost 1.5% of their body weight.
The average starting weight for clinical trial participants was 231 pounds.
Is this similar to Ozempic or other drugs?
While Zepbound and Ozempic are used for different purposes, they are part of the same family called GLP-1 agonists.
GLP-1 agonists work by mimicking the action of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide 1.
When blood sugar levels start to rise after someone eats, these drugs stimulate the body to produce more insulin. The extra insulin helps lower blood sugar levels and also makes people who take it feel more full.
It contains the same active ingredient, tirzepatide, as Mounjaro which is also sold by Eli Lilly.
Diabetes drugs in the GLP-1 agonists class are generally taken by an injection given daily or weekly and include:
Dulaglutide (Trulicity) (weekly)
Exenatide extended release (Bydureon bcise) (weekly)
Exenatide (Byetta) (twice daily)
Semaglutide (Ozempic) (weekly)
Liraglutide (Victoza, Saxenda) (daily)
Lixisenatide (Adlyxin) (daily)
Semaglutide (Rybelsus) (taken by mouth once daily)
Zepbound may cause serious side effects, according to Eli Lily, including tumors in the thyroid, including thyroid cancer.
Watch for possible symptoms, such as a lump or swelling in the neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. Stop taking the medicine if you have any of these symptoms:
Severe stomach problems
Kidney problems (kidney failure)
Gallbladder problems
Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
Serious allergic reaction
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
Changes in vision in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Depression or thoughts of suicide.
How much will it cost?
It will be available starting at $1,059.87, which Lilly claims is approximately 20% lower than semaglutide 2.4 mg injection for weight loss.
Lily claims that list price does not reflect the typical out-of-pocket cost to patients given insurance coverage and discounts.
The pharmaceutical company is also putting a commercial savings card program in place that will help people who may benefit from Zepbound better access it.
People who are commercially insured with coverage for Zepbound may be eligible to pay as low as $25 for 1- or 3-month prescriptions. Commercially insured people without Zepbound coverage could pay as low as $550 for a 1-month prescription.
People may begin using the savings card program in the days following product availability at U.S. pharmacies. You can sign up for that program here (link).
How do I take it?
Each unit of Zepbound will come with instructions, but you should always collaborate with a healthcare provider on how to move forward.
Zepbound is injected under the skin of your stomach, thigh or upper arm once a week at any time of day. Doctors recommend you change or rotate your injection site with each weekly injection, and to never use the same site for each injection.
If you take too much Zepbound, call your healthcare provider, seek medical advice promptly, or contact a Poison Center expert right away at 1‑800‑222‑1222.
When can I buy it?
Zepbound requires a prescription. Zepbound is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of the year in six doses - 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg.
