FDA prescribing information: Zepbound, ZEPBOUND (TIRZEPATIDE) - label effective 2026-08-28

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Abstract

[BOXED_WARNING] WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS In rats, tirzepatide causes dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent thyroid C-cell tumors at clinically relevant exposures. It is unknown whether ZEPBOUND causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) and Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )]. ZEPBOUND is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2) [see Contraindications ( 4 )] . Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of ZEPBOUND and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g., a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with ZEPBOUND [see Contraindications ( 4 ) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )]. WARNING: RISK OF THYROID C-CELL TUMORS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. In rats, tirzepatide causes thyroid C-cell tumors. It is unknown whether ZEPBOUND causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), in humans as the human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined ( 5.1 , 13.1 ). ZEPBOUND is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). Counsel patients regarding the potential risk of MTC and symptoms of thyroid tumors ( 4 , 5.1 ). [WARNINGS_AND_CAUTIONS] 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions: Use has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe. ZEPBOUND is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. ( 5.2 ) Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion: Monitor renal function in patients reporting adverse reactions that could lead to volume depletion. ( 5.3 ) Acute Gallbladder Disease: Has been reported in clinical trials. If cholecystitis is suspected, gallbladder studies and clinical follow-up are indicated. ( 5.4 ) Acute Pancreatitis: Has been observed in patients treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, or ZEPBOUND. Discontinue if pancreatitis is suspected. ( 5.5 ) Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions (e.g., anaphylaxis, angioedema) have been reported postmarketing with tirzepatide. If suspected, advise patients to promptly seek medical attention and discontinue ZEPBOUND. ( 5.6 ) Hypoglycemia: Concomitant use with insulin or an insulin secretagogue may increase the risk of hypoglycemia, including severe hypoglycemia. Reducing dose of insulin or insulin secretagogue may be necessary. Inform all patients of the risk of hypoglycemia and educate them on the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia. ( 5.7 ) Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Monitor patients with a history of diabetic retinopathy for progression. ( 5.8 ) Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation: Has been reported in patients receiving GLP-1 receptor agonists undergoing elective surgeries or procedures. Instruct patients to inform healthcare providers of any planned surgeries or procedures. ( 5.9 ) Never share a ZEPBOUND KwikPen between patients, even if the pen needle is changed. ( 5.10 ) 5.1 Risk of Thyroid C-Cell Tumors In rats, tirzepatide caused a dose-dependent and treatment-duration-dependent increase in the incidence of thyroid C-cell tumors (adenomas and carcinomas) in a 2-year study at clinically relevant plasma exposures [see Nonclinical Toxicology ( 13.1 )] . It is unknown whether ZEPBOUND causes thyroid C-cell tumors, including MTC, in humans as human relevance of tirzepatide-induced rodent thyroid C-cell tumors has not been determined. ZEPBOUND is contraindicated in patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2. Counsel patients regarding the potential risk for MTC with the use of ZEPBOUND and inform them of symptoms of thyroid tumors (e.g., a mass in the neck, dysphagia, dyspnea, persistent hoarseness). Routine monitoring of serum calcitonin or using thyroid ultrasound is of uncertain value for early detection of MTC in patients treated with ZEPBOUND. Such monitoring may increase the risk of unnecessary procedures, due to the low test specificity for serum calcitonin and a high background incidence of thyroid disease. Significantly elevated serum calcitonin values may indicate MTC and patients with MTC usually have calcitonin values >50 ng/L. If serum calcitonin is measured and found to be elevated, the patient should be further evaluated. Patients with thyroid nodules noted on physical examination or neck imaging should also be further evaluated. 5.2 Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions Use of ZEPBOUND has been associated with gastrointestinal adverse reactions, sometimes severe [see Adverse Reactions ( 6 )] . In a pool of two ZEPBOUND clinical trials for weight reduction (Studies 1 and 2), severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions were reported more frequently among patients receiving ZEPBOUND (5 mg 1.7%, 10 mg 2.5%, 15 mg 3.1%) than placebo (1%). Similar rates of severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions were observed in ZEPBOUND clinical trials for weight reduction and in ZEPBOUND clinical trials for OSA. Severe gastrointestinal adverse reactions have also been reported postmarketing with GLP-1 receptor agonists. ZEPBOUND is not recommended in patients with severe gastroparesis. 5.3 Acute Kidney Injury Due to [ADVERSE_REACTIONS] 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following serious adverse reactions are described below or elsewhere in the prescribing information: Risk of Thyroid C-cell Tumors [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Severe Gastrointestinal Adverse Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.2 )] Acute Kidney Injury Due to Volume Depletion [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 )] Acute Gallbladder Disease [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 )] Acute Pancreatitis [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.5 )] Hypersensitivity Reactions [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 )] Hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] Diabetic Retinopathy Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.8 )] Pulmonary Aspiration During General Anesthesia or Deep Sedation [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.9 )] The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥5% of patients treated with ZEPBOUND are: nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, injection site reactions, fatigue, hypersensitivity reactions, eructation, hair loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Eli Lilly and Company at 1-800-LillyRx (1-800-545-5979) or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Adverse Reactions in Patients for Weight Reduction and Long-Term Maintenance Pool of Placebo - Controlled Weight Reduction Trials in Adults with Obesity or Overweight, with or without Type 2 Diabetes (Study 1 and Study 2) ZEPBOUND was evaluated for safety in a pool of two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials that included 2,519 adult patients with obesity or overweight treated with ZEPBOUND for up to 72 weeks and a 4-week off drug follow-up period (Study 1 and Study 2) [see Clinical Studies ( 14.1 )] . The mean age of patients was 47 years and 37% were male. The population was 72% White, 12% Asian, 8% Black or African American, and 7% American Indian or Alaska Native; 51% identified as Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Baseline characteristics included an average BMI of 37.4 kg/m 2 , 29% with a BMI ≥40 kg/m 2 , 41% with hypertension, 37% with dyslipidemia, 25% with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 7% with obstructive sleep apnea, and 4% with cardiovascular (CV) disease. Across both trials, 4.8%, 6.3%, and 6.7% of patients treated with 5 mg, 10 mg, and 15 mg of ZEPBOUND, respectively, permanently discontinued treatment as a result of adverse reactions compared to 3.4% of patients treated with placebo. The majority of patients who discontinued ZEPBOUND due to adverse reactions did so during the first few months of treatment due to gastrointestinal adverse reactions. Common Adverse Reactions Table 1 shows common adverse reactions associated with the use of ZEPBOUND in the pool of two placebo-controlled trials for weight reduction (Study 1 and Study 2). These adverse reactions occurred more commonly with ZEPBOUND than with placebo and occurred in at least 2% of patients treated with ZEPBOUND. Table 1: Adverse Reactions (≥2% and Greater than Placebo) in ZEPBOUND-Treated Adults with Obesity or Overweight in Weight Reduction and Long-term Maintenance Trials (Study 1 and Study 2) a Includes diarrhea, frequent bowel movements. b Includes constipation, feces hard. c Includes abdominal discomfort, abdominal pain, abdominal pain lower, abdominal pain upper, abdominal tenderness. d Includes multiple related adverse event terms, such as injection site bruising, injection site erythema, injection site pruritus, injection site pain, injection site rash, injection site reaction. e Includes asthenia, fatigue, lethargy, malaise. f Includes blood pressure decreased, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension. Adverse Reaction [DRUG_INTERACTIONS] 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS ZEPBOUND delays gastric emptying and has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. ( 7.2 ) 7.1 Concomitant Use with Insulin or an Insulin Secretagogue (e.g., Sulfonylurea) ZEPBOUND lowers blood glucose. When initiating ZEPBOUND, consider reducing the dose of concomitantly administered insulin or insulin secretagogues (e.g., sulfonylureas) to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.7 )] . 7.2 Oral Medications ZEPBOUND delays gastric emptying and thereby has the potential to impact the absorption of concomitantly administered oral medications. Caution should be exercised when oral medications are concomitantly administered with ZEPBOUND. Monitor patients on oral medications dependent on threshold concentrations for efficacy and those with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., warfarin) when concomitantly administered with ZEPBOUND. Advise patients using oral hormonal contraceptives to switch to a non-oral contraceptive method, or add a barrier method of contraception for 4 weeks after initiation with ZEPBOUND and for 4 weeks after each dose escalation. Hormonal contraceptives that are not administered orally should not be affected [see Use in Specific Populations ( 8.3 ) and Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.2 , 12.3 )] . [CONTRAINDICATIONS] 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ZEPBOUND is contraindicated in patients with: A personal or family history of MTC or in patients with MEN 2 [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] . Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any of the excipients in ZEPBOUND. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, have been reported with tirzepatide [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.6 ) and Adverse Reactions ( 6.2 )] . Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 ( 4 ) Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any of the excipients in ZEPBOUND ( 4 )

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