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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, an open-label head-to-head trial in 751 adults with obesity but without type 2 diabetes, in which tirzepatide produced 20.2% mean weight loss versus 13.7% for semaglutide at 72 weeks (NEJM, 2025), 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. On October 1, 2026, CVS Caremark's commercial template formularies added Zepbound back as a preferred option alongside Wegovy, though employers using those templates can still limit coverage. 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.