All doses of Eli Lilly’s highly popular weight loss injection Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro are now available in the U.S., according to a recent update on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug shortage database. This update marks a significant improvement, as previous updates indicated that some doses of these treatments were still in short supply.
Some doses of Mounjaro had been in shortage since as early as 2022. Zepbound, following its U.S. approval in November of the previous year, also faced shortages and was added to the FDA’s shortage list earlier this year. The high demand for both weight loss and diabetes drugs has significantly outpaced supply, prompting Eli Lilly and its competitor Novo Nordisk to invest billions in ramping up manufacturing efforts to meet this demand.
The FDA’s recent update comes shortly after Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks announced in an interview with Bloomberg that the shortages of Mounjaro and Zepbound would end “very soon.” Ricks stated, “I think actually today or tomorrow we plan to exit that process,” highlighting the imminent resolution of the supply issues.
A spokesperson for Eli Lilly did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the FDA’s update. However, the announcement aligns with the company’s commitment to addressing the high demand for its products and alleviating the shortages that have affected patients relying on these medications.
In related news, all doses of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes injection Ozempic are now available in the U.S. as of the FDA’s latest update. However, the FDA noted that some doses of Novo Nordisk’s weight loss drug Wegovy remain in limited supply. Both Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have faced challenges in balancing the soaring demand for their diabetes and weight loss treatments with their production capabilities.
The increased availability of these critical medications is a positive development for patients who have experienced delays and difficulties in accessing their prescribed treatments. As Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk continue to enhance their manufacturing capacities, it is expected that the supply of these drugs will stabilize further, ensuring that patients can consistently receive the medications they need.
This update is particularly significant given the rising prevalence of diabetes and obesity in the U.S., where effective management of these conditions is essential for improving patient outcomes and overall public health.
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