Which pharmaceutical company developed the diabetes and obesity drug tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro and Zepbound?

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Eli Lilly developed tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management.

Eli Lilly and Company is an American pharmaceutical company founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly in Indianapolis, Indiana. Tirzepatide is a medicine that activates receptors associated with the hormones GIP and GLP-1, helping regulate blood sugar and appetite.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes in 2022. It later approved Zepbound for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight plus related health conditions. The same active ingredient can therefore appear under different brand names and indications.

Eli Lilly’s success with tirzepatide contributed to intense investor interest and helped make the company one of the world’s most valuable pharmaceutical businesses. It is often compared with Novo Nordisk, whose semaglutide products have different active ingredients.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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