Zepbound: when will it be available?
Reviewed by Yael Cooperman, MD, Ro,
Written by Felix Gussone, MD, Ro
LAST UPDATED: Nov 09, 2023
1 MIN READ
HERE'S WHAT WE'LL COVER
When tirzepatide was first released as a diabetes drug under the brand name Mounjaro, experts and patients noticed how effective the medication was for weight loss. While tirzepatide was initially only approved by the FDA for treating diabetes, the FDA has now approved Eli Lilly’s new drug Zepbound, which has the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, for chronic weight management. We spoke with Dr. Felix Gussone about when we can expect Zepbound to be available for purchase.
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When will Zepbound be available?
According to Eli Lilly, Zepbound is expected to be available in the U.S. by the end of 2023. According to news outlets, Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said in a media briefing that the company expects to have Zepbound on pharmacy shelves after the Thanksgiving holiday. Stat News reported that during a call with investors, Ricks said the company plans to double its manufacturing capacity by the end of 2023 to handle expected demand and stave off potential shortages.
Zepbound is approved for adults with obesity, as well as those who are overweight and also have weight-related medical problems such as hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Zepbound contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, tirzepatide, and comes in the same strengths (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, 15 mg). The only difference is that Zepbound is FDA-approved for weight loss, and Mounjaro is FDA-approved for treating type 2 diabetes.
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Chen, E., & Garde, D. (2023). Eli Lilly Gets FDA Approval to Sell Mounjaro as Obesity Drug Called Zepbound. STAT. Retrieved Nov. 9, 2023 from https://www.statnews.com/2023/11/08/obesity-eli-lilly-mounjaro-zepbound-fda/
Tirrell, M. (2023). FDA approves Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug Mounjaro for obesity under new name, Zepbound. CNN Health. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/08/health/zepbound-mounjaro-fda-approval-obesity/index.html
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2023). *FDA Approves New Medication for Chronic Weight Management. *Retrieved Nov. 8, 2023 from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-medication-chronic-weight-management
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Every article on Health Guide goes through rigorous fact-checking by our team of medical reviewers. Our reviewers are trained medical professionals who ensure each article contains the most up-to-date information, and that medical details have been correctly interpreted by the writer.
Current version
November 09, 2023
Written by
Felix Gussone, MD
Fact checked by
Yael Cooperman, MD
About the medical reviewer
Yael Cooperman is a physician and works as a Senior Manager, Medical Content & Education at Ro.
