Lilly blames the shortage on huge demand for the drug, saying it can't produce enough to meet demand. Zepbound is the same diabetes drug as Mounjaro, the company's diabetes drug, but rebranded for weight loss.
Lilly says it plans to open a new manufacturing plant in Concord, North Carolina, by the end of the year, dedicated to making the drug and Trulicity, a similar diabetes drug. The FDA website indicated that all but one dose had "limited availability" through the end of June. The drug was approved by the FDA in November, introducing a new competitor to Wegovy, the drug from pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Abruptly stopping treatment can expose patients to weight gain "after stopping just one or two doses of the medication," explains one expert. Lilly has chosen to continue allowing new patients to start taking Zepbound, rather than trying to limit supply to current users. Patients who miss more than two weeks of a drug may be forced to start treatment again at the lowest dose and gradually increase it over weeks. Abruptly stopping a weight-loss drug can expose patients to weight gain, according to gastroenterologist Christopher McGowan. "I always say be aware and prepare," McGowan said. "When they put you on treatment with Mounjaro or Zepbound, really make sure you are aware of the limited availability.'"