Most doses of Zepbound, the latest weight-loss drug to hit the market, is in short supply due to increased demand, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The health regulator's website said the Eli Lilly product, along with its diabetes counterpart Mounjaro, will experience limited availability throughout the second quarter of 2024. The affected doses include 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg and 15 mg for both medications, while the 2.5 mg doses remain accessible. Previously, some doses were expected to be available in limited quantities through April, but the surge in demand has outpaced expectations.
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"We have experienced an unparalleled surge in demand for our type 2 diabetes and obesity medicines," a spokesperson for Eli Lilly told Newsweek. "We recognize this situation may cause a disruption in peoples' treatment regimens and are working with purpose and urgency to help meet the surge in demand."
It is not the first popular drug used for weight loss to suffer a shortage amid a surge in demand. Last year, diabetes drug Ozempic saw worldwide supply issues, fueled by celebrity endorsements and social media buzz. Patients that relied on it for blood-sugar control said they faced difficulties obtaining it.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company that produces Ozempic, overtook luxury conglomerate LVMH as Europe's most valuable company last year in part because of the drug's popularity.
Novo weight-loss drug Wegovy is seeing a supply shortage, according to the FDA, with no indication for how long that limited availability may last.
While these drugs offer hope for fighting obesity and chronic weight gain, experts caution against viewing them as miracle solutions. The drugs' popularity has also raised concerns about inappropriate prescriptions, unauthorized copycats and potential risks.
The weight-loss drug market is projected to reach about $100 billion by 2030, attracting competitors eager to capitalize.
"The chronic weight management market is undergoing an inflection, in our view, with potential for solid growth ahead and a peak opportunity that, by our estimates, could ultimately yield some of the highest grossing drugs of all time," Goldman Sachs senior biopharmaceuticals analyst Chris Shibutani said in an October report.
Eli Lilly announced plans last year to expand a plant in North Carolina to support increased demand for the firm's incretin products used in treating diabetes. Incretin products mimic gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar.
"We expect our investments in manufacturing and supply capacity to progressively increase production of our medicines throughout 2024 and beyond," the Eli Lilly spokesperson said Thursday.
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The company has seen its share price rise more than 102 percent in the past year.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Daniel Orton is an editor on the live news team at Newsweek, based in London, UK. He was previously Video ... Read more
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