A new weight-loss drug... twice as expensive as Ozempic

A new weight-loss drug is hitting the market, promising to be even more effective than the popular Ozempic, but the price tag will be steep for those interested.

"It should not be prescribed haphazardly to just anyone," warns Dr. Marie-Philippe Morin of the Quebec University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology (IUCPQ), who nevertheless welcomes the arrival of a new tool in the therapeutic arsenal against obesity.

Eli Lilly's Zepbound drug, which is now available for prescription in Canada, promises weight loss of 34 to 48 pounds according to its clinical trials. While Ozempic typically results in an average weight loss of about 10%, Zepbound can achieve 20% or more.

The side effects are the same, namely nausea and diarrhea, and it is also injected using a pen.

^Dr. Morin, a specialist in internal and bariatric medicine, emphasizes that this new medication is similar to the weight loss associated with bariatric surgery.

Up to $800

But the cost is enormous. At maximum doses, Zepbound will cost a patient up to $800 per month.

It's about twice as expensive as Ozempic.

The active ingredient in Zepbound is tirzepatide, and it acts on two hormone receptors, instead of just one like Ozempic.

Zepbound contains exactly the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, which is marketed for type 2 diabetes. But the latter is less well-known, as it is not yet covered by the public plan, explains ^Dr. Morin.

It is in the process of being evaluated by the National Institute of Excellence in Health and Social Services (INESSS).

Only a few private insurers cover the costs of Mounjaro, adds ^Dr. Morin, but only to a very limited extent. "They were scalded by the spectacular debut of Ozempic," she says.

Question of time

But the specialist believes it's only a matter of time, especially with the arrival of lower-cost generic versions in the coming years, before weight-loss drugs are covered by public and private plans.

However, she advocates for long-term monitoring of patients taking such medication, deploring the proliferation of rapid online prescriptions. Whether it's to change lifestyle habits in a lasting way or to ensure they're ingesting enough vitamins and minerals, for example.

"Like any medication, it shouldn't be for aesthetic reasons, but for health reasons," she believes.