Before tirzepatide can be made available for weight loss, the manufacturer Lilly currently has to go through three more trials, but it is seeking a fast track.
“I think that semaglutide opened the door in a significant way. It got people talking about it. It got people understanding it,” he said. “And now, the tirzepatide molecule will really bust open those same doors, and newer and better molecules will hopefully follow this one.” Many have also reported rough gastrointestinal side effects. About 80% of participants in tirzepatide’s clinical trial reported a side effect, most often nausea, diarrhea, and constipation, and 4% to 7% of people had to stop taking it due to side effects, compared with about 3% of people taking a placebo. n animal studies, but that has not been proven to be a risk in humans.
The type 2 diabetes formulations of these medications also have high price tags, though they are significantly lower. The retail price for Ozempic and Mounjaro is about $1,100, or about $600 less per month.