| Obesity
Zepbound vs Saxenda
Side-by-side clinical, coverage, and cost comparison for obesity.Deep comparison between: Zepbound vs Saxenda with Prescriber.AI
AI compares prescribing info and payer-specific access barriers across 1,200+ formularies. Here's a preview of what prescribers are already asking.Safety signalsSaxenda has a higher rate of injection site reactions vs Zepbound based on FDA-approved prescribing information
Coverage gaps3 major payers require step therapy for Saxenda but not Zepbound, including UnitedHealthcare
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Category
Zepbound
Saxenda
At A Glance
SC injection
Once weekly
GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist
SC injection
Daily
GLP-1 receptor agonist
Indications
- Obesity
- Sleep Apnea, Obstructive
- Obesity
- Overweight and obesity
Dosing
Obesity Starting dose 2.5 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks, escalating in 2.5 mg increments every 4 weeks; maintenance 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg SC once weekly.
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Starting dose 2.5 mg SC once weekly for 4 weeks, escalating in 2.5 mg increments every 4 weeks; maintenance 10 mg or 15 mg SC once weekly.
Obesity, Overweight and obesity Initiate at 0.6 mg SC once daily; escalate weekly to recommended dose of 3 mg SC once daily in abdomen, thigh, or upper arm; pediatric maintenance dose may be reduced to 2.4 mg daily if 3 mg not tolerated.
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Known serious hypersensitivity to tirzepatide or any excipient in ZEPBOUND
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2)
- Serious hypersensitivity reaction to liraglutide or any excipient in SAXENDA
Adverse Reactions
Most common (>=2%) Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, injection site reactions, fatigue, hypersensitivity reactions, eructation, hair loss, gastroesophageal reflux disease, flatulence, abdominal distension, dizziness
Serious Risk of thyroid C-cell tumors, severe gastrointestinal reactions, acute kidney injury, acute gallbladder disease, acute pancreatitis, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis and angioedema, hypoglycemia, diabetic retinopathy complications, pulmonary aspiration
Postmarketing Acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, intestinal obstruction, severe constipation including fecal impaction, anaphylaxis, angioedema, pulmonary aspiration, acute renal failure or worsening of chronic renal failure
Most common (>=2%) Nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, injection site reaction, headache, hypoglycemia in T2DM, dyspepsia, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, increased lipase, gastroenteritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, abdominal distension, eructation, flatulence
Serious Thyroid C-cell tumors, acute pancreatitis, acute gallbladder disease, hypoglycemia with concomitant anti-diabetic therapy, heart rate increase, acute kidney injury due to volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal reactions, hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, pulmonary aspiration
Postmarketing Acute pancreatitis, hemorrhagic and necrotizing pancreatitis, ileus, hyperbilirubinemia, cholestasis, hepatitis, angioedema, anaphylactic reactions, medullary thyroid carcinoma, acute kidney injury, cutaneous amyloidosis, alopecia
Pharmacology
Tirzepatide is a dual GIP receptor and GLP-1 receptor agonist that selectively binds and activates both receptors, reducing body weight by decreasing caloric intake and affecting appetite regulation, stimulating glucose-dependent insulin secretion, reducing glucagon secretion, and delaying gastric emptying.
Liraglutide is an acylated human GLP-1 receptor agonist with 97% amino acid sequence homology to endogenous human GLP-1(7-37) that binds and activates the GLP-1 receptor to reduce calorie intake and lower body weight; it also stimulates insulin secretion and reduces glucagon secretion in a glucose-dependent manner.
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Most Common Insurance
Anthem BCBS
Zepbound
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (9/12) · Step Therapy (0/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
Saxenda
- Covered on 5 commercial plans
- PA (10/12) · Step Therapy (10/12) · Qty limit (9/12)
UnitedHealthcare
Zepbound
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (4/8) · Qty limit (1/8)
Saxenda
- Covered on 4 commercial plans
- PA (5/8) · Step Therapy (0/8) · Qty limit (5/8)
Humana
Zepbound
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (1/3) · Qty limit (0/3)
Saxenda
- Covered on 0 commercial plans
- PA (3/3) · Step Therapy (3/3) · Qty limit (3/3)
Coverage data sourced from MMIT. Updated monthly.
Savings
$25/fillfill
Zepbound Savings Card - Covered benefitCommercial or private insurance
Medicare, Medicaid, VA, TRICARE
Final cost depends on formulary coverage
No savings programs available for Saxenda.
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ZepboundView full Zepbound profile
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Clinical data sourced from FDA-approved labeling. Coverage data via MMIT. Updated monthly.