Zepbound
What is Zepbound®?
Zepbound® is the name of the new weight loss medication from the American company Eli Lilly. The active ingredient is called Tirzepatide, which is also found in the diabetes medication Mounjaro®.
Tirzepatide is a type of GIP analogue (gastric inhibitory polypeptide) that binds to both GIP and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors.
How does Zepbound® work?
Zepbound® operates similarly to Wegovy® by suppressing appetite, leading to reduced food intake. Like Wegovy®, the medication is administered weekly through injection into fatty tissue using a small needle. However, unlike Wegovy®, Zepbound® does not allow for dose adjustment as it comes with an autoinjector. An autoinjector does not permit dose adjustment, and there’s no need to attach a needle as it’s preloaded. The pen is disposable after use.
Like Wegovy®, the medication is not a standalone treatment. It complements dietary and lifestyle changes, which should be attempted before resorting to medication.
The medication is approved for patients with a BMI of at least 30 or a BMI of at least 27 with a weight-related comorbidity.
What is the link between Mounjaro® and Zepbound®?
Both Mounjaro® and Zepbound® contain the active ingredient Tirzepatide. Mounjaro® is a diabetes medication approved for the treatment of diabetes in both the US and EU in 2022. Like other diabetes medications, Mounjaro® was found to have the additional benefit of promoting weight loss in patients.
Eli Lilly, the company behind these medications, conducted studies to investigate their potential for weight loss. Upon confirming their effectiveness, they sought approval to market the drug specifically for weight loss purposes, leading to the creation of Zepbound®.
In comparison to Novo Nordisk products, Mounjaro® is similar to Ozempic®, while Zepbound® is akin to Wegovy®
What does Zepbound® cost?
in the US, the drug is priced lower than Wegovy® – $1080 for Zepbound® compared to $1350 for Wegovy®. This represents a 21% reduction in price.”
Is Zepbound® better than Wegovy®?
Research studies cannot be directly compared, but the published data from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the two companies that have developed the medications, show that Wegovy® resulted in approximately a 16% weight loss after 68 weeks, while Zepbound® showed a weight loss of about 20% after 72 weeks. The medications have been directly compared in patients with type 2 diabetes, where the groups received either 5, 10, or 15 mg of Tirzepatide (Zepbound®) or 1 mg of Semaglutide (Wegovy®). The weight loss after 40 weeks was:
• Tirzepatide 5 mg: 7.8 kg
• Tirzepatide 10 mg: 10.3 kg
• Tirzepatide 15 mg: 12.4 kg
• Semaglutide 1 mg: 6.2 kg
A study comparing Zepbound® vs. Wegovy® in patients without diabetes is currently underway. This study is expected to be published in 2025.