There is a weight loss drug approved by the FDA
The Eli Lilly shot: Weight loss at a lower price than Wegovy, and its possible consequences in treating Type 2 diabetes and heart attacks
Eli Lilly says it shows more weight loss than Wegovy at a lower price. The drug will arrive in the US at the end of the year. A version of the shot, known generically as tirezepatide, is already sold as Mounjaro to treat Type 2 diabetes.
The Lilly drug works by acting on two hormones in the brain that regulate appetite and metabolism, one of which is called GLP-1.
Common side effects from the drug include nausea, diarrhea, constipation and vomiting. The drug also caused thyroid tumors in rats, though the FDA said it’s not known if Zepbound causes the same kind of tumors in humans.
In announcing the approval, the FDA cited the growing public health concern over excess weight. According to the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, today’s approval addresses an unmet medical need because of rising rates of both obese and overweight in the US. About 70% of adult Americans have obesity or overweight, the FDA noted.
“New treatment options bring hope to the many people with obesity who struggle with this disease,” said Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition, in a statement released by Lilly. There are a number of diseases that are linked to obesity, such as heart attacks and strokes.
Pricing Insurance Coverage and Discounts for Weight-Loss Treatments for Obese People: Eli Lilly’s Announcement
The actual amount patients would pay would depend on their insurance coverage and potential discounts. For example, insurance coverage varies widely by provider.
In a statement, Eli Lilly representatives wrote that Zepbound is expected to be available in the US by the end of the year at a list price of $1,059.87 per month. Wegovy costs over a thousand dollars a month without insurance. Drugs for weight management may not be covered by insurance because it does not cover the cost of diabetes treatments. Eli Lilly’s announcement says the company is putting a commercial savings card program in place to help people who may benefit from Zepbound access it.
Medicare doesn’t pay for weight-loss drugs. Some of the new medications for Medicare are included in a proposal that would increase insurance access to cover treatments for obese people.
Where to Buy Wegovy and Ozempic? Competition Between GLP-1 and Zepbound Effects on Weight and Obesity
Zepbound and Mounjaro are similar to the better-known Wegovy and Ozempic, which are both manufactured by Danish company Novo Nordisk. All of these drugs have the same effect on the body as GLP-1. GLP-1 lowers blood sugar, slows the emptying of the stomach, and regulates appetite when made in the gut. Zepbound and Mounjaro also act on a similar hormone called GIP to reduce food intake.
The drugs were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes but are now being used to lose weight. Wegovy is indicated for weight management and Ozempic for diabetes, although it can be prescribed off-label for both. Many overweight Americans have weight related health problems and approximately 70 percent of Americans are obese.
Thanks to rising demand for these drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy have been on the FDA’s drug shortage list since March 2022. In order to meet demand, the company tried to limit the number of new people who could take Wegovy. The drug comes in preloaded injector pens containing different doses, and patients must start out with a low-dose pen before gradually stepping up to higher doses. To focus on serving current patients, the drugmaker has restricted the supply of low-dose injections.
Drugmakers are already working on pill versions of GLP-1 drugs, which could make them even more attractive to patients. Demand could surge even more with new data likely to be revealed at a meeting of the American Heart Association this weekend.
The US FDA has approved Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug’Zepbound’, which works by acting on two hormones in the brain that regulate appetite and metabolism, one of which is called GLP-1. The drug also reportedly caused thyroid tumors in rats, though it’s not known if Zepbound causes the same kind of tumors in humans.