Eli Lilly and Co. (LLY.US) is exploring new uses for its weight loss drug Zepbound to lower the incidence of diabetes and other high-risk conditions in people who are not overweight, even as the company's CEO Dave Ricks revealed plans to test the drug as a maintenance therapy for people with a body mass index (BMI) below the overweight level. Zepbound and the company's other weight loss candidate, orforglipron, are currently targeted at patients with a BMI of 30 or higher, as well as those with a BMI of 27 or higher who have other weight-related health issues.
Ricks said the company hopes to lower the BMI threshold to 25 or lower to study the drug as a potential means of preventing diabetes, stroke or vascular dementia. The strategy is especially meaningful for certain groups of people with lower BMIs but higher diabetes risk, such as Pacific Islanders.
However, Eli Lilly still believes that using Zepbound for aesthetic weight loss is inappropriate.
Zepbound, also known as tirzepatide, is a GLP-1 drug that competes with Novo Nordisk's semaglutide, which is sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy.
GLP-1 drugs have been in the spotlight for their potential in weight loss and glucose control. In addition, several companies are actively developing weight loss drugs, including Amgen (AMGN.US), Pfizer (PFE.US), AstraZeneca (AZN.US), Roche (RHHBY.US), Boehringer Ingelheim, Viking Therapeutics (VKTX.US), Altimmune (ALT.US), Zealand Pharma and Sutro Biopharma (GPCR.US), all of which are seeking to develop new solutions for obesity and related diseases.