Popular weight loss drugs Zepbound and Wegovy, as well as diabetes medication Mounjaro, are currently in limited supply, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
As diabetes and weight loss drugs continue to rise in popularity across the country, some doses of Zepbound, Mounjaro, and Wegovy are officially in shortage in the United States, disrupting peoples' ability to access their medication.
The FDA says “demand increase for the drug” is to blame for the shortages.
Currently, the 5 mg and 12.5 mg doses of Zepbound, which was approved by the FDA in November of 2023, have limited availability through the end of April. The injectable weight loss drug contains the medication tirzepatide, which works by activating hormone receptors in the intestine to reduce appetite.
Mounjaro, meanwhile, contains the same active ingredient as Zepbound but is marketed as a type 2 diabetes drug. The 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg doses of this drug currently have limited availability, according to the FDA, and shortages are expected to continue throughout the month.
Both drugs are manufactured by Eli Lilly Co., who told ABC News in a statement that it’s facing an “unparalleled surge in demand” but is working to increase supply.
"We recognize this situation may cause a disruption in peoples’ treatment regimens and are working with purpose and urgency to address it,” the statement said. “As a medicine company, we know that people rely on us to help reach and maintain their health goals, and we take our responsibility very seriously.”
The company said it expects its investments in manufacturing and supply capacity to progressively increase the production of Mounjaro and Zepbound throughout the second half of 2024. It added that patients struggling to get their medicine at one pharmacy can try revisiting their pharmacy at a later time, exploring other pharmacies in their area, or contacting their healthcare provider for help.
Wegovy, which is also approved for weight loss but contains semaglutide as its active ingredient, is also facing shortages. The 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, and 1.7 mg doses currently have limited availability, and the estimated shortage duration is listed as TBD.
The drug is manufactured by Novo Nordisk who also released a statement to ABC News saying that it is working to "more than double" the number of lower doses available in the U.S.
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