Zepbound Trumps Wegovy in Weight Loss Showdown, Study Finds
Zepbound users shed 50 pounds on average, outpacing Wegovy in a new clinical trial
In a head-to-head clinical trial, people taking Eli Lilly’s Zepbound lost significantly more weight than those on Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, according to a new 72-week study published in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 32nd European Congress on Obesity (ECO).
On average, participants on Zepbound lost 20.2% of their body weight—about 50 pounds—while those on Wegovy lost 13.7%, or roughly 33 pounds. Nearly 65% of people taking Zepbound lost 15% or more of their body weight, compared to 40% of those on Wegovy. In terms of waist size, Zepbound users saw an average reduction of seven inches, while Wegovy users lost about five inches.
Both Zepbound and Wegovy are part of a growing class of blockbuster weight-loss drugs, but they’re built on different active ingredients. Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, is approved in the U.S. for adults with obesity or overweight with weight-related health issues and marketed as Mounjaro in other countries. It’s also sold as Mounjaro for treating type 2 diabetes in both the U.S. and abroad. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, is used for similar weight-related conditions and marketed as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes. A key difference: Zepbound targets two hormone receptors involved in hunger and metabolism, while Wegovy targets only one.
“Thanks to the latest advancements in obesity management medications, more physicians and patients are witnessing significant weight reduction beyond what they have seen before,” said Dr. Louis J. Aronne, an internist specializing in diabetes and obesity at NewYork Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and principal investigator of the study. “The SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head results demonstrated tirzepatide led to greater weight reduction compared to semaglutide, providing further evidence to support tirzepatide as an effective option for obesity management.”
Although the study was not designed to directly compare the safety and tolerability of the two drugs, most side effects reported during the trial were gastrointestinal and generally mild to moderate. About 6.1% of Zepbound users stopped treatment due to side effects, compared to 8.0% of those on Wegovy.
Effective Obesity Drugs, Limited Coverage
While clinical trials highlight the effectiveness of weight loss medications, access remains a major hurdle for many Americans. Despite rising demand, insurance coverage for such drugs is still limited, prompting platforms like Found to step in. The telehealth platform recently announced it will offer Wegovy and Zepbound through newly available direct-to-consumer pharmacy programs from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, with pricing starting at $499 per month for Wegovy and $349-$699 per vial for Zepbound.
WeightWatchers is also taking steps to improve access—even as it navigates financial headwinds. The storied brand, which recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (while assuring members it’s not going anywhere), announced a new pharmacy integration with Eli Lilly and provider Gifthealth. The move streamlines fulfillment of FDA-approved Zepbound for WeightWatchers Clinic members with on-label prescriptions. Notably, 33% of Clinic members currently use Zepbound. The partnership also improves access for self-pay patients without insurance.
Found and WeightWatchers’ efforts highlight a growing trend among companies trying to fill the access gap but they also underscore a larger issue: America’s broader healthcare crisis, noted David A. Kessler, MD, former FDA commissioner under Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
In a recent op-ed published in The Guardian, Kessler shared that he carries three health insurance plans, none of which would cover weight loss medications.
“Faced with this reality, and my increasing percentage of body fat, I decided to pay out of pocket – over $1,000 a month – for a GLP-1 to treat my prediabetes,” he wrote. “For most people, that is not an option…
Obesity is killing millions of people. At this point, excess fat may be more damaging to our health than cigarettes. In the face of exorbitantly high drug prices, patients struggling with excess weight are caught in a system of bewildering complexity and even potential danger. People whose insurance will not cover these drugs are left with three options: endure financial hardship, use less effective therapeutic options, or resort to compounded medications whose quality or safety has not been assured.”
Meanwhile, the fitness industry is rapidly adapting to the weight-loss drug boom, with some operators and equipment companies integrating access to the medications as part of their offerings, such as Recess Rx from Dallas-based Recess Fitness, Life Time’s Miora and Echelon’s ActiveMD.