Get to know everything about Tirzepatide the new weight loss drug! The FDA is expected to approve Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug for weight loss, but concerns are growing about whether insurance will cover the expensive treatment.
A new injectable weight loss drug developed by Eli Lilly, called Tirzepatide, is expected to be granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023 and could potentially become the best-selling drug of all time, surpassing the current record holder AbbVie’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira. While the drug has been shown to be highly effective in clinical trials, concerns are mounting about who will be able to afford it. Tirzepatide is a member of a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic hormones that reduce food intake and appetite. It is also expected to be priced similarly to other weight loss drugs on the market, Wegovy and Saxenda, both from Novo Nordisk, which carry list prices of around $1,500 and $1,350 per month’s supply, respectively.
However, while Tirzepatide and the other two drugs are already approved to treat diabetes, they are often not covered by insurance when prescribed for obesity. This lack of coverage is due in part to the stigma surrounding obesity, as well as the lack of effectiveness of older anti-obesity medications. The high cost of these newer drugs has led to calls for more affordable options, including weight loss surgery and other non-pharmaceutical treatments.
In the meantime, patients seeking treatment with Tirzepatide or other weight loss drugs may have to pay out-of-pocket or seek financial assistance from the drug companies. It remains to be seen whether Tirzepatide will live up to its potential as the best-selling drug of all time, but its high cost may limit its reach to those who can afford it.
FAQs:
- What is Tirzepatide and how does it work?
- Tirzepatide is an injectable weight loss drug developed by Eli Lilly that is expected to be approved by the FDA in 2023. It is a member of a class of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, which mimic hormones that reduce food intake and appetite. Tirzepatide also mimics a second hormone called GIP, which may improve how the body breaks down sugar and fat in addition to reducing appetite.
- How effective is Tirzepatide in clinical trials?
- In phase 3 clinical trials, a high dose of Tirzepatide was found to help patients lose an average of 22.5% of their body weight, or about 52 pounds, which is more than any other weight loss medication currently on the market. Most patients in the trial had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. In comparison, Wegovy and Saxenda reduced body weight by around 15% and 5%, respectively.
- How much will Tirzepatide cost?
- It is currently unclear how much Tirzepatide will cost when it is approved for weight loss. However, it is expected to be priced similarly to other weight loss drugs on the market, such as Wegovy and Saxenda, which carry list prices of around $1,500 and $1,350 per month’s supply, respectively. A “fair” price for Tirzepatide could be around $13,000 annually, or around $1,100 per month.
- How effective is tirzepatide compared to other weight loss drugs?
- Tirzepatide has been found to be highly effective for weight loss in clinical trials. In a phase 3 trial, a high dose of tirzepatide helped patients to lose an average of 22.5% of their body weight, or about 52 pounds. This is more weight loss than any other currently available medication. By comparison, Wegovy and Saxenda have been shown to reduce body weight by around 15% and 5%, respectively.
- Will insurance cover tirzepatide for weight loss?
- It is uncertain whether insurance will cover tirzepatide for weight loss. While lower doses of all three GLP-1 agonist drugs (tirzepatide, Wegovy, and Saxenda) are already approved to treat diabetes and are typically covered by insurance, coverage for the higher doses used for weight loss is less certain. Obesity carries a unique stigma and is often not viewed as a medical condition, which can make it difficult for patients to get coverage for weight loss treatments.
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