FDA Approves New Weight-Loss Drug
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Zepbound injection (tripeptide) for chronic weight management in adults with obesity. They fall into the category of obesity, body mass index of 30 kg/m2 or greater.
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| The once-a-week injected medications Zepbound and Mounjaro share the same active ingredient, tirzepatide. (Photo: Eli Lilly) |
At least one weight-related condition (such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol) can use this. Including accompanied by a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
Tirzepatide Approved under the Trademark Name Mounjaro
Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, has been approved under the trademarked name Mounjaro for use along with diet and exercise, to help raise blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
"Obesity and being overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with several major causes of death, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes," said John Sharretts, director of the FDA's Division of Diabetes, Lipid Disorders, and Obesity.
Also, read: FDA Approves World's First Chikungunya Vaccine.
About 70 percent of American adults are obese or overweight. And many of those who are overweight have weight-related conditions.
Losing five to 10 percent of body weight through diet and exercise has been linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease in obese or overweight adults.
Zepbound activates hormone receptors secreted from the gut (glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), to reduce appetite and food intake.
Zepbound is given by injection under the skin once a week, and the dose must be increased for four to 20 weeks to reach the target dose of five milligrams (mg), 10 mg, or 15 mg once a week. The maximum dose of Zepbound is 15 mg once a week.
Zepbound's effectiveness for chronic weight management (weight reduction and maintenance), combined with a low-calorie diet and increased physical activity, was established in two double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trials in obese or overweight adults with at least one associated condition.