The United States approves Eli Lilly’s long-awaited anti-obesity drug

2023-11-09 14:19:51

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, for its acronym in English) announced on Wednesday the approval of Zepboundthe long-awaited weight loss medication that adds to the powerful therapeutic arsenal against obesity, which includes drugs Ozempic y WegovyBoth of Novo Nordiskand is expected to become a bestseller.

Administered as a weekly injection, Zepbound It is indicated for overweight or obese patients who have at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol. “Obesity and overweight are serious conditions that can be associated with some of the leading causes of death such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes,” he said. John Sharetts, of the FDA, in a statement. “In light of the increasing rates of both obesity and overweight in the United States, today’s approval responds to an unmet medical need,” the note notes.

Zepbound’s main asset, called tirzepatidahad been approved under the trade name Mounjaro, a diabetes control drug also manufactured by Eli Lilly.

In a clinical trial with more than 2,500 adultspeople taking Zepbound along with a diet and exercise regimen lost 22 kilos on average when taking the highest dose allowed, while with the lowest dose they lost just over 15 kilos. Under placebo effects, it was 3 kilos.

At the beginning of the trial, the average weight of the participants was 104 kilos. Around the 70 percent of adults in the United States they are obese or overweight; Losing between 5 and 10 percent of body weight through diet and exercise is linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, AFP reports.

Zepbound will sell for $1,059.87, which may limit the number of people who can receive it, since insurance companies do not generally cover weight loss medications.

The FDA indicated that the side effects of Zepbound Known include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, injection reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss, and gastroesophageal reflux. It has been found to cause thyroid C-cell tumors in rats, but it is unknown if the same occurs in humans.