Eli Lilly launched Zepbound in the United States as a weight-management medicine.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Zepbound in November 2023 for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus at least one related condition. Its active ingredient is tirzepatide, which acts on receptors for the hormones GIP and GLP-1. The same ingredient is marketed as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.
Zepbound is administered by injection and is intended to be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It is a prescription medicine, not an over-the-counter supplement.
Novo Nordisk markets semaglutide products such as Wegovy and Ozempic, so the companies are often confused in discussions of modern weight-loss medicines. Zepbound and Wegovy are different products with different active ingredients.