Eli Lilly‘s GIP/GLP-1 obesity offering Zepbound is facing supply hurdles and the company claims that the drug’s ‘unprecedented’ demand is the reason of this issue.
According to a report by Bloomberg News, Although the weight loss drug is not listed on the FDA’s shortage list, stocking the drug is becoming a challenge for pharmacies across the country.
For example, Amazon Pharmacy, a third-party dispensing provider for Lilly, lists four out of six dosage strengths as “unavailable”, Bloomberg reported.
The online pharmacy also reports that Lilly’s diabetes injection Mounjaro (tirzepatide) is unavailable. The drug shares the same active ingredient as Zepbound.
“While Lilly continues to manufacture and ship all doses of Zepbound, due to the unprecedented demand for these medicines, some patients may experience difficulty when trying to fill their prescription at their pharmacy,” a Lilly spokesperson told Fierce Pharma in an emailed statement.
Reportedly, the FDA is monitoring the ongoing shortage of Mounjaro which is a Type 2 Diabetes drug by Eli Lilly. Certain doses are expected to be in short supply until the end of the month, Fierce Pharma reported.
It is noteworthy that fraudulent copycats of both Zepbound and Mounjaro are increasing in the market amid this shortage.
In March this year, Lilly alerted patients to the safety risks of using compounded or counterfeit versions of tirzapatide. The pharma major maintains that it has found often contain bacteria and high impurity levels.
The company reiterated its commitment to pursuing legal action against those who falsely claim the Mounjaro or Zepbound name, including “certain medical spas, wellness centers, and compounding pharmacies.”
