21 stories
Zepbound is Eli Lilly's branded tirzepatide for chronic weight management — the obesity twin of Mounjaro. Approved in late 2023, it became the centerpiece of Lilly's challenge to Wegovy and ran ahead of expectations on share through 2025.
Key reads: SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head against semaglutide showing 21.6% versus 15.4% mean weight loss at 72 weeks, SURMOUNT-OSA approval in obstructive sleep apnea, and a steady stream of cardiovascular and HFpEF data that supports broader insurance coverage. The Truveta real-world EHR analysis at OMA 2026 backed up the trial signal in 12-month routine care.
Zepbound sits on the April 30, 2026 FDA proposal to exclude tirzepatide from the 503B bulks list. Stories here cover the trials, payer coverage, and the head-to-head versus Wegovy.
Biopharma acquisitions surged in Q1 2026 with 14 deals over $500M. Eli Lilly earned $65.2 billion in 2025, roughly half from Mounjaro and Zepbound, fueling an industry-wide M&A wave.
Pharmacist guide on new self-pay pricing for tirzepatide, navigating insurance and medication switching, with warnings against unsafe compounded GLP-1 products.
CMS confirmed that Medicare Part D beneficiaries will gain access to Wegovy and Zepbound for weight loss through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program starting July 2026 at a $50 monthly copayment, bridging to the full BALANCE Model launching in Medicare Part D in January 2027.