Tirzepatide is a single peptide that activates two receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Eli Lilly sells it as Mounjaro, a once-weekly KwikPen, and in some markets also as Zepbound. The tirzepatide compound guide covers the molecule and its research in more depth.
Tirzepatide in the Philippines: Mounjaro, Zepbound and supply
What tirzepatide is, how Mounjaro and Zepbound differ, where it is registered and sold, what its trials measured and reported, and how research-grade tirzepatide is supplied.
Short answer
Tirzepatide is the GIP and GLP-1 agonist in Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound. As of 23 September 2026, it is registered in the Philippines only as Mounjaro (12 certificates), a prescription medicine; Zepbound has no Philippine registration. Research-grade tirzepatide is not a registered medicine, and prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician.
Video transcript
Searched tirzepatide, Zepbound or Mounjaro in the Philippines? Here is what you need to know. Tirzepatide is one peptide that activates two receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Eli Lilly sells it as Mounjaro. Mounjaro and Zepbound are both tirzepatide. In the Philippines, Mounjaro is the registered brand, with 12 registrations. Zepbound has no FDA Philippines registration. In July 2026, the FDA warned against an unregistered tirzepatide product. Mounjaro is prescription only. Prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. In SURMOUNT-1, a phase 3 trial, adults with obesity lost more weight on tirzepatide than on placebo. The US label warns of thyroid C-cell tumours. At Watsons, Mounjaro pens run from ₱11,650 to ₱29,900. Each pen delivers 4 doses, so the 15 mg pen holds 60 mg: about ₱498 per mg. Research vials are not the same product. Mounjaro is a registered prescription medicine. A research vial is not approved for human use, and is sold for research only. Our partner and supplier, Primara Labs, lists a 15 mg tirzepatide vial at ₱1,890, or ₱1,155 per vial in a 10 pack. Per mg, the pen is about ₱498. The vial is about ₱126, or ₱77 in a 10 pack. Not the same product. Every order includes bacteriostatic water, insulin syringes and alcohol pads. Same day in Metro Manila before noon, J&T to the provinces. Pay by GCash, Maya or InstaPay, backed by a 60-day money-back guarantee. Read the full guide on Philippines Peptides, then see tirzepatide at Primara Labs and order on WhatsApp.
What tirzepatide is
Mounjaro and Zepbound
Both are tirzepatide from Eli Lilly. Mounjaro is the brand registered in the Philippines (12 certificates of product registration, checked 23 September 2026). The FDA Philippines verification portal returned no registration for Zepbound. A pen sold locally under a Zepbound label is therefore not a registered product here. More in the Zepbound guide.
Where it is available
Mounjaro is sold by licensed pharmacies, which list the KwikPen online and release it against a prescription, and by hospital pharmacies after a consultation. Mercury Drug publishes no prices online. What every KwikPen strength costs at each pharmacy is on the Mounjaro price Philippines page. Some telehealth programs also offer compounded tirzepatide, prepared by a pharmacy rather than registered; what that is, and how it differs from Mounjaro and from a research vial, is in the compounded tirzepatide guide. How Mounjaro compares with semaglutide in the only head-to-head trial is on Mounjaro vs Ozempic.
What the trials found
In SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight fell by 15%, 19.5% and 20.9% on the 5 mg, 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.1% on placebo. Source · Registry
| Trial and population | n | Weeks | Change by arm | Comparator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 · Phase 3Adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes | 2,539 | 72 | 5 mg −15%10 mg −19.5%15 mg −20.9% | Placebo −3.1% | Source · Registry |
| SURMOUNT-2 · Phase 3Adults (18 or older) with BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher and type 2 diabetes with HbA1c 7-10% (53-86 mmol/mol), in seven countries | 938 | 72 | 10 mg −12.8%15 mg −14.7% | Placebo −3.2% | Source · Registry |
| SURMOUNT-3 · Phase 3Adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one obesity-related complication (excluding diabetes), who achieved 5.0% or more weight reduction after a 12-week intensive lifestyle intervention | 579 | 72 | Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) −18.4% | Placebo 2.5% | Source · Registry |
| SURMOUNT-4 · Phase 3Adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related complication, excluding diabetes | 670 | 88 | Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 −5.5% | Switched to placebo 14% | Source · Registry |
| SURMOUNT-5 · Phase 3bAdults with obesity but without type 2 diabetes | 751 | 72 | Tirzepatide, maximum tolerated dose −20.2% | Semaglutide, maximum tolerated dose −13.7% | Source · Registry |
| Trial | Highest-dose arm | Comparator |
|---|---|---|
| SURMOUNT-1 | 15 mg −20.9% | Placebo −3.1% |
| SURMOUNT-2 | 15 mg −14.7% | Placebo −3.2% |
| SURMOUNT-3 | Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) −18.4% | Placebo 2.5% |
| SURMOUNT-4 | Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 −5.5% | Switched to placebo 14% |
| SURMOUNT-5 | Tirzepatide, maximum tolerated dose −20.2% | Semaglutide, maximum tolerated dose −13.7% |
Each pair is one trial: the highest-dose arm (dark) and the comparator (light). Full results and arms are in the table above.
The same figures as sentences
- In SURMOUNT-2, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 938 adults (18 or older) with BMI of 27 kg/m2 or higher and type 2 diabetes with HbA1c 7-10% (53-86 mmol/mol), in seven countries, body weight fell by 12.8% and 14.7% on the 10 mg and 15 mg arms, against 3.2% on placebo. Source · Registry
- In SURMOUNT-3, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 579 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one obesity-related complication (excluding diabetes), who achieved 5.0% or more weight reduction after a 12-week intensive lifestyle intervention, body weight changed by -18.4% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 2.5% on placebo. Source · Registry
- In SURMOUNT-4, an 88-week phase 3 trial of 670 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, body weight changed by -5.5% on the Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 arm, against 14% on switched to placebo. Source · Registry
- In SURMOUNT-5, a 72-week phase 3b trial of 751 adults with obesity but without type 2 diabetes, body weight fell by 20.2% on the Tirzepatide, maximum tolerated dose arm, against 13.7% on semaglutide, maximum tolerated dose. Source · Registry
Findings, evidence levels and sources are from the Research Desk datasets published by Primara Labs, our partner and supplier, synced 23 September 2026 and summarised here in this site’s own words.
Side effects reported
Full side-effect table by trial
SURMOUNT-1, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, reported:
| Adverse event | 5 mg | 10 mg | 15 mg | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discontinuation for adverse events | 4.3% | 7.1% | 6.2% | 2.6% |
The same figures as sentences
- Discontinuation for adverse events: 4.3%, 7.1% and 6.2% on the 5, 10 and 15 mg arms, against 2.6% on placebo.
SURMOUNT-3, a 72-week phase 3 trial of 579 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with at least one obesity-related complication (excluding diabetes), who achieved 5.0% or more weight reduction after a 12-week intensive lifestyle intervention, reported:
| Adverse event | Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Discontinuation for adverse events | 10.5% | 2.1% |
| Nausea | 39.7% | 14% |
| Diarrhoea | 31% | 9.2% |
| Constipation | 23% | 6.8% |
| Vomiting | 18.1% | 1.4% |
The same figures as sentences
- Discontinuation for adverse events: 10.5% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 2.1% on placebo.
- Nausea: 39.7% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 14% on placebo.
- Diarrhoea: 31% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 9.2% on placebo.
- Constipation: 23% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 6.8% on placebo.
- Vomiting: 18.1% on the Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg) arm, against 1.4% on placebo.
SURMOUNT-4, an 88-week phase 3 trial of 670 adults with BMI of 30 or more, or 27 or more with a weight-related complication, excluding diabetes, reported:
| Adverse event | Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 | Switched to placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Discontinuation for adverse events | 1.8% | 0.9% |
| Diarrhoea | 10.7% | 4.8% |
| Nausea | 8.1% | 2.7% |
| Vomiting | 5.7% | 1.2% |
The same figures as sentences
- Discontinuation for adverse events: 1.8% on the Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 arm, against 0.9% on switched to placebo.
- Diarrhoea: 10.7% on the Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 arm, against 4.8% on switched to placebo.
- Nausea: 8.1% on the Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 arm, against 2.7% on switched to placebo.
- Vomiting: 5.7% on the Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88 arm, against 1.2% on switched to placebo.
Registration and prescription
Mounjaro is registered with FDA Philippines as a prescription drug. The verification portal returned these certificate of product registration numbers on 23 September 2026:
- DR-XY49504: Mounjaro KwikPen, 2.5 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49503: Mounjaro KwikPen, 5 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49501: Mounjaro KwikPen, 7.5 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49531: Mounjaro KwikPen, 10 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49505: Mounjaro KwikPen, 12.5 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49502: Mounjaro KwikPen, 15 mg/0.6 mL
- DR-XY49611: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 2.5 mg/0.5 mL
- DR-XY49612: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 5 mg/0.5 mL
- DR-XY49613: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 7.5 mg/0.5 mL
- DR-XY49610: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 10 mg/0.5 mL
- DR-XY49616: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 12.5 mg/0.5 mL
- DR-XY49617: Mounjaro (single-dose vial), 15 mg/0.5 mL
Check any registration yourself on the FDA Philippines verification portal.
Mounjaro is a prescription medicine in the Philippines, and prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. Whether it suits you, and at what dose, is a decision for that physician. The tirzepatide guide covers what the trials of tirzepatide measured and the side effects they reported. What Philippine law says about registration and prescriptions is in the regulation hub.
FDA Philippines advisories naming tirzepatide
- FDA Advisory No. 2026-1020, 4 September 2026. FDA Philippines warned the public against buying or using an unregistered tirzepatide 30mg multi-use vial sold with bacteriostatic water, which had not been issued a Certificate of Product Registration. Advisory
- FDA Advisory No. 2026-1019, 4 September 2026. FDA Philippines warned the public against buying or using an unregistered tirzepatide product sold as Peptatide Tirzepatide 15mg with a bacteriostatic water kit, which had not been issued a Certificate of Product Registration. Advisory
- FDA Advisory No. 2026-0814, 30 July 2026. FDA Philippines warned the public against buying or using an unregistered tirzepatide product sold as Tirz Laine Tirzepatide 30mg/3 mL, which had not been issued a Certificate of Product Registration. Advisory
Research-grade supply
Research-grade tirzepatide is a different category of product: a lyophilised powder in a vial, sold for laboratory research. It is not a registered medicine, has no prescriber or pharmacist behind it, and is not a substitute for a prescribed Mounjaro pen. The FDA Philippines advisories above warn against unregistered tirzepatide vials. How registration works is in the regulation hub. This is general information, not legal or medical advice.