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Weight Loss Buzz is for health-conscious consumers wanting to know more about weight loss products and medication. We bring you the news on the latest weight loss trends, breakthrough medications, buying advice, and tips for losing weight well.

NEWS: ELI LILLY’S MOUNJARO GETS GREEN LIGHT FOR OBESITY TREATMENT - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Eli Lilly the manufacturer of weight loss drug Mounjaro, is enjoying not one but two major approvals this week.

What’s been approved by whom?

On Wednesday 8th November, in the US, the FDA (the US Food and Drug Administration) and in the UK, the MHRA (the Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) both approved the drug for obesity treatment.

This means that in both the US and the UK it can now be prescribed to assist with weight loss in the same way Wegovy can.

What is Tirzepatide and how does it work?

Tirzepatide (currently sold under the brand name Mounjaro) is an injectable prescription-only medication.

Tirzepatide is innovative in the sense that it works in two ways and it is this combination that gives it the edge over drugs that work in a single way (like Semaglutide). Semaglutide, (the drug in Ozempic and Wegovy) is a receptor agonist that binds to the natural hormone GLP-1.  Tirzepatide works differently. Tirzepatide binds not just to GLP-1 (Glucagon-like peptide 1) but to GIP (Glucose-Dependent Insulinotropic peptide meaning it has ‘dual action’ benefits.

Our intestines release hormones GLP-1 and GIP when our blood glucose levels increase after we eat. Both these natural hormones encourage the pancreas to increase the production of insulin, which lowers blood glucose. GLP-1 also moderates how quickly our stomachs empty, determining how long we feel full. The GIP and GLP-1 we produce naturally last a few minutes; tirzepatide changes the structure of our naturally occurring hormones so they last for days.

Who makes Tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide is manufactured by US drug company Eli Lilly. Now that Tirzepatide has been approved for weight loss, Lilly joins Danish company Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy,  in the race to dominate the weight loss medication space.  Eli Lilly also makes diabetes drugs Humulin R, Basaglar, Humalog, and Trulicity.

What is the history of Tirzepatide?

Tirzepatide (like Semaglutide in Wegovy) was originally created to treat diabetes Indeed, the drug has been sold for the treatment of diabetes under the brand name Mounjaro for some time. Again like Wegovy, it was noticed that Mounjaro had strong capabilities when it came to helping patients to lose weight and has been being prescribed ‘off-label’, which is for an alternative purpose than it was approved, by many.

What will it be called?

The drug's name is Tirzepatide, and it’s currently sold as Mounjaro for diabetes treatment, but it will have a new name, Zepbound when sold as a treatment for obesity. The reason drugs companies sell what is essentially the same drug under multiple brand names is to differentiate the purpose of the drug. This of course aids with supply issues as they can determine how much supply to create for different purposes, and as you’ll have seen in the press, many are worried that Diabetes patients are struggling to find their medication because it is being used off-label for weight loss.

Could this ease the weight loss drugs supply issues?

Supply is still an issue for Wegovy manufacturer Novo Nordisk, and it is likely that supply will be an issue too for Eli Lilly - simply because so many people want the drugs to aid their weight loss journey.  We think that as Tirzepatide has now been approved for weight loss, this will ease the pressure on Wegovy as some may switch when the drug becomes readily available. Indeed Eli Lilly has been preparing to ramp up its production of this and other drugs by investing $1.6 billion in new plants in Indiana.

Will Tirzepatide / Mounjaro / Zepbound be available in the UK on the NHS?

The approval by MHRA doesn’t mean it’ll be available on the NHS just yet, and the NHS is still trialling the use of Wegovy (although it may well add Tirzepatide to its trial). What it does mean is that the drug can be prescribed privately via online pharmacies and telehealth services. When the drug is available you’ll likely see it along-side Wegovy and customers will have to choose which they prefer.

Will there be other weight loss drugs coming soon?

Yes, Wegovy and Zepbound will likely be joined by others within the medium term (within a couple of years). Already Astra Zeneca has announced it is working on a new tablet form of weight loss drug, which may shake things up again as some people will prefer not to use injections.

What are the implications for the weight loss space in general?

If you want to lose weight and have money to buy these new drugs, they could help in your weight loss journey - alongside a regulated diet and exercise regime. But if your healthcare insurer (in the US) doesn't include weight loss drugs, you will have to pay out of pocket. Similarly, there could be a long wait before the drug becomes widely available on the NHS in the UK - the current 2-year trial is limited to 50,000 people only.

What we may see is that more non-medicated weight care programmes also see an uptick in use from customers who are looking for a non-medicated way to lose weight.

As with all medication, speak to a healthcare professional before using powerful medication, and always, if you’re shopping online for weight loss drugs, beware of fake, counterfeit drugs and scams. Check out our guide on how to spot weight loss scams here.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WEB

Here’s our weight loss news and opinions roundup from around the web this week. This week Mounjaro / Zepbound / Tirzepatide is dominating the weight loss headlines but there’s also news from Astra Zeneca that it’s planning to launch a weight loss drug in tablet form soon.

Weight Loss Tip 20: Could The Hunger Zone help you to lose weight?

This week in our regular Weight Loss Tip, we took a look at the Hunger Zone. Can understanding your hunger levels aid in weight loss? Read more here.

STUFF WE LOVE

We bring you a selection of lush stuff each week to help support your weight loss journey. This week we love…

Eatiful - Mindful and Intuitive Eating Courses

Eatiful helps people learn the art of mindful and intuitive eating for weight loss Currently the service offers several courses designed to embed the Eatiful Method and help people change HOW, but not necessarily WHAT they eat to lose weight.  Find out more here.

We hope you’ve enjoyed Weight Loss Buzz this week. If you have, please share this newsletter with your friends. We wish you every success on your healthy weight loss journey.

Until next time,

The Weight Loss Buzz Team

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