Zepbound is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which include Ozempic/Wegovy and mimic a hormone that helps reduce food intake and appetite. However, Zepbound also imitates a second hormone, called GIP, which — along with reducing appetite — may also improve how the body breaks down sugar and fat. The combination is believed to be potentially more efficacious than Ozempic/Wegovy's GLP-1 agonist alone, according to an NBC article (https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/eli-lilly-weight-loss-drug-zepbound-fda-approval-ozempic-rcna123169).
The drug was approved by the FDA today after the clinical trials indicated potential weight-loss of up to 52 pounds in 16 months. In a release, Lilly said Zepbound should be available in the U.S. by the end of the year. It will carry a list price of about $1,060 for a month's supply. The cost may put the new drug out of reach for many people given that insurance companies are often reluctant to cover weight loss medications, and Medicare, by law, does not cover them.
Ozempic launched in 2018 and has already hit $11.3 billion in sales with the current Wall Street estimate for $32 billion by 2025, according to a deep-dive by MarketLab (https://marketlab.substack.com/i/137490034/the-skinny-on-ozempic). Since Novo Nordisk launched Ozempic, their market cap has increased by $200 billion.
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