the recent approval of Eli Lilly's drug tirzepatide, marketed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes, for the treatment of obesity.
The drug, to be sold under the name Zepbound for obesity,
has been cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is expected to introduce competition for Novo Nordisk in the market for weight loss medications.
Both Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy target receptors of the GLP-1 hormone, with Zepbound additionally targeting the GIP hormone.
In trials, Zepbound has shown up to 21% weight loss
while Wegovy has demonstrated about a 15% weight reduction.
Common side effects for both drugs include nausea, diarrhea,
and vomiting, with a boxed warning for the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.
the high demand for these medications in the United States, where a significant percentage of the population meets the criteria for being overweight or obese.
To address potential shortages, Eli Lilly plans to increase its manufacturing capacity and introduce Zepbound at a list price of $1,059.87 per month,
similar to Mounjaro's price and approximately 20% lower than the price of Wegovy.
The company is also implementing a savings card program for individuals with commercial insurance.
The expansion of Mounjaro's authorization to include obesity treatment in the UK,
as well as the potential for Zepbound to become a dominant player in the estimated $100 billion obesity market, surpassing Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.
While Novo has longer-term data supporting the safety and benefits of Wegovy,
Lilly is still conducting trials for Zepbound, with results not expected until 2027.
Despite the expected demand for Zepbound, concerns about potential supply shortages,
similar to those experienced with Wegovy, have been expressed by industry experts.
Additionally, ongoing research aims to determine which patients may respond best to different obesity medications, highlighting the need for tailored treatments in this area.
It seems that the approval of Zepbound represents a significant development in the field of obesity treatment
with both companies and researchers exploring the potential of these medications to address the growing prevalence of obesity and overweight individuals.