Eli Lilly’s ‘Unprecedented’ Demand Leads to Supply Shortfall

On yet another occasion, a medication belonging to the GLP-1 family of diabetes and weight loss medicines is encountering difficulties in terms of supply. Eli Lilly’s GIP/GLP-1 obesity solution Zepbound is the medication that pharmacists are unable to continuously maintain on shelves. This is because of what the firm refers to as “unprecedented” demand for the product. 

According to Bloomberg News, despite the fact that the weight reduction shot is not presently on the list of drugs that are in limited supply with the FDA, pharmacists all across the country are having a difficult time keeping the medicine on their shelves. As an example, Amazon Pharmacy, which is a third-party dispense source for Lilly, indicates that four out of the six dose strengths are not available.

It has also been reported by the online pharmacy that the diabetic injectable Mounjaro (tirzepatide) manufactured by Lilly, is now unavailable. Furthermore, the active ingredient of the medicine is identical to that of Zepbound.

A Lilly spokesperson said the following in an emailed statement, “While Lilly continues to manufacture and ship all doses of Zepbound, due to the unprecedented demand for these medicines, some patients may experience difficulty when trying to fill their prescription at their pharmacy.”

According to the spokesman, patients whose medication regimens are disturbed might try pharmacies in the surrounding area and contact their healthcare professionals if the interruptions persist. He further remarked that the company is intensely working to ensure that its innovations become available to the customers who urgently need them.

As a result of the increased demand for Zepbound, Rite Aid has had some occasional supply limitations, according to the representative. Meanwhile, a spokesperson of Walgreens said that the company continues to collaborate with vendors and logistics partners to help fulfill patient demand.

Regarding Mounjaro, the FDA has confirmed that there is a continuous scarcity. Between now and the end of the month, it is anticipated that there will be a shortage of certain dosages.

Even though there may be a limited quantity of branded Zepbound and Mounjaro, there are supposedly a large number of counterfeit versions flooding the market.

It was earlier in March that Lilly issued a warning to patients about the potential dangers of using modified or counterfeit versions of tirzapatide. The company discovered that these versions often include germs and significant levels of impurity. The organization reaffirmed its determination to pursue legal action against individuals or organizations who fraudulently claim the Mounjaro or Zepbound names. These include specific medical facilities, wellness places, and specialty pharmacies.

In other related shortage news, Novo Nordisk has already begun restricting the first dosages of Wegovy  to ensure that there is sufficient supply for patients who are already taking the medication. Nevertheless, the situation is becoming worse: This month, the Chief Executive Officer of Novo Nordisk, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, declared that the disparity between the demand for weight loss medications and the supply is substantial enough to need a considerable amount of time to be closed.