The US Food and Drug Administration approved the type 2 diabetes drug tirzepatide for use in chronic weight management Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), making official the use of a medicine already widely prescribed off-label for weight loss.The drug, called Mounjaro for diabetes, will be called Zepbound for weight loss, according to a news release from the FDA. Made by Eli Lilly, it is part of a new class of drugs that includes semaglutide, known as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy for weight loss, which have rocketed in popularity in recent years.Zepbound was shown in clinical trials to yield more than 20 per cent average weight loss on higher doses over 72 weeks, stronger results than what has been achieved with other approved medicines. The FDA cleared it for people with obesity or those characterized as overweight with at least one weight-related health condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, the same indication as for Wegovy. Like similar drugs, it is taken as a shot patients give themselves once a week, and is recommended on top of a reduced calorie diet and increased exercise.
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