Mounjaro overview
Brand name for tirzepatide, FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Mounjaro at a glance
Manufacturer
Eli Lilly
FDA status
FDA-approved
Questions readers ask
Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss or only for type 2 diabetes?
This page lists Mounjaro, Eli Lilly’s brand of tirzepatide, as FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tirzepatide for weight management is sold self-pay as Zepbound on LillyDirect at $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg) or $449 (7.5–15 mg, refill within 45 days) a month (read October 14, 2026).
How did Mounjaro’s tirzepatide compare with semaglutide in SURPASS-2?
In SURPASS-2, a trial in adults with type 2 diabetes, tirzepatide 15 mg produced a mean weight change of −11.2 kg versus −5.7 kg on semaglutide 1 mg at 40 weeks. The result is reported in kilograms, not as a percentage advantage.
Is compounded tirzepatide the same product as Mounjaro?
No. Compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and are not Mounjaro, and a licensed clinician decides eligibility. NexLife, rated 94/100 on the site’s rubric, lists compounded tirzepatide at $139 a month on a 12-month plan charged monthly, or $169 month to month (read October 14, 2026).
Does Medicare’s $50 GLP-1 Bridge cover Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is not on the Bridge list. The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, running July 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2027, offers a $50 copay to eligible Part D members for Wegovy, Foundayo and Zepbound KwikPen, with prior authorization and BMI-based criteria.
Primary sources
- FDA: Concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss (current as of October 1, 2026)
- FDA: Policies for compounders as GLP-1 supply stabilizes (updated April 1, 2026)
- FDA: Compounding and the FDA — questions and answers
- FDA: Registered outsourcing facilities (503B)
- Wilding JPH et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity (STEP 1). N Engl J Med 2021
- Wegovy (semaglutide) prescribing information, Novo Nordisk