Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
FDA Approves Eli Lilly's Mounjaro For Weight Loss, Under 'Zepbound' Name
Eli Lilly & Co. won US approval for its diabetes drug to treat obesity, unlocking blockbuster sales potential and sparking a battle for dominance of a market that’s expected to hit $100 billion by 2030. The weight-loss drug, branded Zepbound, contains exactly the same active ingredient as the company’s diabetes drug Mounjaro, and will cost $1,059.87 for a month’s supply. That’s cheaper than Wegovy, a similar weight-loss drug made by Novo Nordisk A/S, which is $1,349 for a month’s supply. (Muller, 11/8)
The FDA’s green light will probably increase the already strong demand for the drug. It will also add to pressure on commercial health plans to cover the weight-loss use, despite the costs. Plans had been holding out, noting the FDA hadn’t granted approval, though some covered its use in people with diabetes. Lilly said it expects Zepbound to become available by the end of the year at a list price of $1,060 a month, or about 20% lower than the list price for Wegovy. (Loftus, 11/8)
The F.D.A. approved Zepbound for people who have a body mass index — a much-criticized metric — of 30 or greater, which technically qualifies them as having obesity, or those with a B.M.I. of 27 who also have certain weight-related conditions, such as high blood pressure. Regulators said the drug should be used in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity. (Blum, 11/8)
In related news —
With Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic hitting blockbuster sales and a new rival approved this week, everyone in Washington is thinking about how to manage the crashing wave of weight loss drug costs. (Owermohle, 11/9)
Ongoing shortages of life-saving and essential drugs have largely been tied to the fragility of drug supply chain, but the flip side of the economic equation driving the scarcity — demand — is also a growing problem. (Reed, 11/9)
In a recent podcast episode, actor Josh Peck, most known for his role in Nickelodeon’s "Drake & Josh," discussed the pressure of growing up with fame as a “morbidly obese” teenager and the role that played in his past drug and alcohol addiction. Losing weight, Peck assumed, would fix his problems. The realization that it didn’t tipped him over the edge. Drugs and alcohol helped cushion his fall when food no longer could. (Camero, 11/8)
