Medication compare
Wegovy vs Zepbound: a head-to-head comparison of efficacy, dosing, pricing, FDA status, and which is right for you.
Wegovy and Zepbound are both FDA-approved for chronic weight management in adults. Wegovy is semaglutide (Novo Nordisk). Zepbound is tirzepatide (Eli Lilly). They are different drug classes — Wegovy is a single GLP-1 agonist; Zepbound is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist.
| Dimension | Wegovy | Zepbound |
|---|---|---|
| Molecule | Semaglutide | Tirzepatide |
| Mechanism | GLP-1 receptor agonist | Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist |
| Mean weight loss | ~14.9% (STEP-1, 68w, 2.4mg) | ~22.5% (SURMOUNT-1, 72w, 15mg) |
| List price | ~$1,349/mo | ~$1,086/mo |
| FDA-approved indications | Weight + cardiovascular risk reduction | Weight + obstructive sleep apnea |
| Compounded availability | $199–$449/mo | $249–$499/mo |
Zepbound (tirzepatide) produces larger mean weight loss than Wegovy (semaglutide) at maximum doses in published trials. SURMOUNT-5 head-to-head confirmed this. Individual response varies — some patients respond better to one molecule than the other.
Brand list price: Zepbound is currently slightly cheaper. Compounded: semaglutide is typically cheaper than tirzepatide. With insurance: depends on your plan's formulary tier.