This content material initially appeared on diaTribe. Republished with permission.
By April Hopcroft
In accordance with a latest replace by the FDA, shortages for Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound will persist by means of no less than June 2024.
New diabetes and weight reduction drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have made fairly a splash at physician’s places of work, on TV, and even amongst TikTok influencers. Along with their well-known weight reduction results, these medication enhance glycemic management and might defend the guts and kidneys.
Due to the unprecedented demand for these drugs, many are in restricted provide. The newest replace from the FDA notes that the shortages for Mounjaro and Zepbound will final by means of no less than June 2024. An earlier FDA announcement had stated some doses could be briefly provide by means of April 2024.
This information follows a scarcity of Ozempic, which started in late 2022 and has since been resolved, in line with the FDA. Nevertheless, the FDA lists all doses of the burden loss remedy Wegovy, which accommodates the identical lively ingredient as Ozempic (semaglutide), as having restricted availability as a result of elevated demand.
Which doses are affected?
Mounjaro and Zepbound have the identical lively ingredient (tirzepatide) and are available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg injection pens. In accordance with the FDA, all doses of Mounarjo and Zepbound besides the two.5 mg starter dose have restricted availability by means of the top of June 2024.
Equally, all doses of Wegovy besides the bottom dose (2.4 mg) have restricted availability. The FDA has not supplied an estimate for a way lengthy the Wegovy scarcity will final. The kind 2 diabetes remedy Trulicity (dulaglutide) can be experiencing related shortages, with all doses besides the bottom (0.75 mg) having restricted availability by means of June 2024.
What can folks with diabetes do through the scarcity?
There are a number of completely different choices for coping with the shortages. Mounjaro and Zepbound customers might contemplate switching again all the way down to the two.5 mg pen since that dose remains to be accessible; Wegovy customers might change again to the two.4 mg pen. Whereas this isn’t best in the long run, it might nonetheless present some advantages and make the consequences last more till larger doses can be found once more.
It might even be doable to change to a distinct incretin drug, like a GLP-1 receptor agonist. Some examples of different GLP-1 medication embrace:
- Ozempic (semaglutide), a weekly injection
- Rybelsus (semaglutide), a every day tablet
- Victoza, Saxenda (liraglutide), a every day injection
- Byetta (exenatide), a twice-daily injection
Word that Novo Nordisk doesn’t advocate switching to Saxenda, because the firm can’t guarantee there shall be sufficient provide to satisfy the rising demand for weight reduction medication.
It’s necessary to verify along with your healthcare supplier and insurance coverage to find out which alternate options are best for you and if they are going to be coated.
The underside line
Based mostly on the demand for these diabetes and weight reduction drugs, a number of firms are growing manufacturing capability.
For example, Lilly lately started making these medication at its manufacturing plant in North Carolina and is increasing to different websites the world over. Likewise, Novo Nordisk greater than doubled the quantity of the decrease doses of Wegovy beginning in January 2024 to assist meet elevated demand and is slowly increasing total provide.
Though there will not be a particular finish date in sight, the elevated manufacturing capability ought to assist finally resolve these shortages.
Shortages can actually be a supply of misery. Do not forget that they’re non permanent and that it’s necessary to proceed working towards common diabetes self-care and sustaining wholesome habits within the meantime.
