Zepbound vs. Wegovy: A Weight-Loss Drug Showdown

Eli Lilly has reported that its weight-loss drug Zepbound outperformed Novo Nordisk's Wegovy in five key measurements, including waist circumference reduction. The head-to-head trial is significant, as it provides new data in the competitive obesity drug market, which could exceed $150 billion annually in the coming years.

The trial found that nearly 25% more participants achieved a weight loss of over 15% with Zepbound compared to Wegovy. In terms of waist reduction, Zepbound achieved an average of 18.4 cm, surpassing the 13 cm average reduction seen with Wegovy. Novo Nordisk maintained Wegovy's unique approval for cardiovascular event prevention.

This information follows U.S. drug approval and data presented at an obesity congress, despite CVS Health's recent decision to exclude Zepbound in favor of Wegovy on some reimbursed lists. Both drugs act differently; Zepbound mimics two gut hormones while Wegovy utilizes a single action. Zepbound led to a 22% weight loss in trials, compared to Wegovy's 15%.

(With inputs from agencies.)