If you have been reading about weight loss medications online, you may have come across the name Zepbound — particularly in American coverage. It sounds like a new drug. It is not. Zepbound is the US brand name for tirzepatide used specifically for weight management. In the UK, the same drug is sold under a different name: Mounjaro.
This article explains what Zepbound is, why it does not exist as a product in the UK, and what this means for patients here.
Zepbound and Mounjaro are the same drug
Both Zepbound and Mounjaro contain tirzepatide — a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist developed by Eli Lilly. The molecule is identical. The difference is purely one of branding and regulatory licensing.
Eli Lilly chose to bring tirzepatide to market under two separate brand names:
- Mounjaro — licensed for type 2 diabetes in most markets, including the UK and EU
- Zepbound — licensed for chronic weight management in the United States
In the UK, Mounjaro received MHRA approval for weight management in November 2023, via a separate approval from its diabetes licence. So in effect, UK patients already have access to the weight-management-approved version of tirzepatide — they just know it as Mounjaro.
Why does the US use a different name?
This is common practice in the pharmaceutical industry. Companies often register separate brand names for the same molecule across different indications or markets. It allows distinct marketing, separate pricing negotiations with insurers and health systems, and clearer communication to prescribers about the approved use.
In the US, Mounjaro is the diabetes brand and Zepbound is the weight management brand — both containing tirzepatide. In the UK and Europe, Eli Lilly has consolidated both licences under the Mounjaro name, obtained through separate MHRA and EMA approval processes.
Can I order Zepbound from the US?
No — and you should not attempt to. Importing prescription medicines from another country without a valid UK prescription and proper regulatory clearance is illegal. Medicines sourced this way may be counterfeit, incorrectly stored, or the wrong formulation. The GPhC has issued guidance warning patients against purchasing medicines from unregistered online sellers, particularly following the surge in demand for GLP-1 medications.
What doses does Mounjaro come in?
In the UK, Mounjaro is available as a weekly self-injection pen in six doses:
- 2.5mg — starting dose
- 5mg
- 7.5mg
- 10mg
- 12.5mg
- 15mg — maximum dose
Patients typically start at 2.5mg and titrate up every four weeks as tolerated, under prescriber supervision. The MHRA-approved weight management programme involves monthly injections with a target maintenance dose of 5–15mg depending on individual response.
How much does Mounjaro cost in the UK?
Unlike in the US where Zepbound is covered by some insurance plans, Mounjaro for weight management in the UK is only available via private prescription for the vast majority of patients. NHS access is very limited — currently restricted to specialist weight management services for patients with BMI ≥ 40 and multiple comorbidities.
Private prices vary significantly between providers. At the starting dose of 2.5mg, prices range from around £149 to £214 per month depending on which pharmacy you use. At the maximum 15mg dose, the range is approximately £299 to £359 per month.
This is one of the reasons we built GLP1Compared — the price differences between GPhC-registered UK pharmacies are substantial, and there is no obvious reason to pay more for the same medication.
Will Zepbound ever come to the UK?
It is unlikely that Eli Lilly will launch a separate Zepbound brand in the UK. The company has already secured weight management approval for Mounjaro through the MHRA, and there is no commercial rationale for introducing a second brand name for the same drug in the same market. The Mounjaro brand is well established in the UK and Europe, and Eli Lilly's communications consistently refer to the UK weight management product as Mounjaro.
In short: Zepbound is an American brand name. UK patients have access to the same drug — same molecule, same doses, same clinical results — through Mounjaro.