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Weight loss · Compound
Tirzepatide
Dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, studied in phase 3 trials in obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Philippines Peptides editorial deskUpdated Trial data checked 23 September 202615 min read5 sources
Body weight fell on the 15 mg arm 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, against 3.1% on placebo
20.9%
Completed trials with a reported result in the Research Desk dataset
5
The strongest evidence found for Tirzepatide comes from phase 3 human trials, and every finding below carries its evidence level.
Availability in the Philippines
Buying Tirzepatide in the Philippines
Availability
Mounjaro KwikPen listed by Watsons, Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy in every strength. No Philippine registration identified for Zepbound.
Price range
₱11,650 to ₱29,900 per Mounjaro KwikPen (Rx) at Watsons, checked 23 September 2026
Sourcing channel
Prescription from a licensed Philippine physician, filled at a registered pharmacy
Tirzepatide as a prescription medicine in the Philippines
Branded Mounjaro is listed by Philippine drugstore chains against a prescription, and prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. A research-grade vial of tirzepatide is not a registered medicine and is not a substitute for a prescribed pen.
What is Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a single peptide that activates two receptors: GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1. It was developed by Eli Lilly and is the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. The US FDA approved Mounjaro on 13 May 2022 for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, and Zepbound on 8 November 2023 for weight reduction in obesity or overweight with a comorbidity and for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity. Each approval covers the named branded medicine for its labelled use only, never a research-grade vial of the same substance.
The strongest evidence for tirzepatide is phase 3 human. The SURMOUNT-1 to SURMOUNT-4 trials studied it in obesity and overweight, obesity with type 2 diabetes, and maintenance of weight reduction, and the phase 3b SURMOUNT-5 trial compared it head to head with semaglutide. The figures from those trials, and the adverse events reported in them, are set out in the sections below.
Tirzepatide is a prescription medicine, and prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. The weight loss hub lists the other compounds this site covers.
How it works
GLP-1 receptor: tirzepatide activates the GLP-1 receptor, the same receptor semaglutide targets. The Mounjaro prescribing information describes the resulting effects in people as glucose-dependent insulin secretion, lower glucagon levels, delayed gastric emptying and reduced food intake.
GIP receptor: tirzepatide also activates the GIP receptor. In the animal studies reported in the 2018 discovery paper (Coskun et al., Mol Metab), the dual agonist reduced body weight more than a selective GLP-1 receptor agonist.
Human comparisons: in people, the comparison with a GLP-1-only agonist comes from head-to-head trials against semaglutide: SURPASS-2 in type 2 diabetes (N Engl J Med 2021) and SURMOUNT-5 in obesity, whose result is in the Benefits studied section.
Tirzepatide in the Philippines
Tirzepatide is sold in the Philippines as Mounjaro, a once-weekly KwikPen registered with FDA Philippines as a prescription drug. On 23 September 2026 Watsons, Southstar Drug and Rose Pharmacy listed every strength online; current prices by pharmacy are on the Mounjaro price page. No Philippine registration has been identified for Zepbound, the brand Lilly uses for obesity in the United States.
FDA Philippines lists 12 certificates of product registration for Mounjaro, covering the KwikPen and single-dose vial presentations, each a prescription drug. FDA Advisory No. 2026-0065 added tirzepatide 2.5 mg to 15 mg per 0.6 mL solution for injection to the list of VAT-exempt health products for diabetes under the CREATE Act.
The same regulator has warned against tirzepatide sold outside that system 3 times: FDA Advisory No. 2026-1019, 4 September 2026, FDA Advisory No. 2026-1020, 4 September 2026, FDA Advisory No. 2026-0814, 30 July 2026. Each advisory names a product with no Certificate of Product Registration, and 2 of them describe a vial sold with bacteriostatic water. The advisories are listed in full on the regulation hub.
In research terms the evidence dataset rates tirzepatide phase 3 human, the highest level it uses. Completed phase 3 trials SURMOUNT-1 to SURMOUNT-4 and the phase 3b head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 against semaglutide. Those trials, and every approval, concern Lilly's medicine. The US FDA note in the regulatory dataset says an approval covers the named branded medicine for its labelled use only, never a research-grade vial of the same substance.
A research-grade vial of tirzepatide is a different category of product: not a registered medicine, not dispensed by a pharmacist, and not a substitute for a prescribed pen. Prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician.
Benefits studied
Body-weight reduction
Phase 3 human
SURMOUNT-1, a phase 3 trial of 2,539 adults with obesity or overweight and no diabetes, recorded an average 20.9% fall in body weight on the 15 mg arm at 72 weeks, against 3.1% on placebo. Source: Jastreboff AM et al. N Engl J Med 2022;387:205-216
Body-weight reduction with type 2 diabetes
Phase 3 human
SURMOUNT-2 (phase 3, 938 adults with type 2 diabetes and a BMI of 27 or more) found an average 14.7% weight loss on 15 mg over 72 weeks, against 3.2% on placebo. Source: Garvey WT et al. Lancet 2023 (SURMOUNT-2)
Maintenance of weight reduction
Phase 3 human
SURMOUNT-4, a phase 3 withdrawal trial of 670 people, found that those who stayed on tirzepatide after a 36-week lead-in lost a further 5.5% by week 88, while those moved to placebo regained 14.0%. Source: Aronne LJ et al. JAMA 2024 (SURMOUNT-4)
Body-weight reduction against semaglutide
Phase 3 human
SURMOUNT-5, a phase 3b head-to-head trial of 751 adults with obesity and no type 2 diabetes, measured 20.2% average weight loss on tirzepatide against 13.7% on semaglutide over 72 weeks. Source: Aronne LJ et al. N Engl J Med 2025 (SURMOUNT-5)
Side effects reported
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 events in SURMOUNT-1, share of participants
Discontinuation for adverse events: 4.3%, 7.1% and 6.2% on the 5, 10 and 15 mg arms, against 2.6% on placebo.
Adverse events in SURMOUNT-3 and SURMOUNT-4
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 events in SURMOUNT-3, share of participants
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 events in SURMOUNT-4, share of participants
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.
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
Completed trials of Tirzepatide with a reported result. Outcome: body weight
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
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
Body weight change on the highest-dose arm against the comparator, Tirzepatide trials
SURMOUNT-172 weeks, phase 3
−20.9% (15 mg)
−3.1% (placebo)
SURMOUNT-272 weeks, phase 3
−14.7% (15 mg)
−3.2% (placebo)
SURMOUNT-372 weeks, phase 3
−18.4% (Maximum tolerated dose (10 or 15 mg))
2.5% (placebo)
SURMOUNT-488 weeks, phase 3
−5.5% (Continued tirzepatide, weeks 36 to 88)
14% (switched to placebo)
SURMOUNT-572 weeks, phase 3b
−20.2% (Tirzepatide, maximum tolerated dose)
−13.7% (semaglutide, maximum tolerated dose)
Body weight change on the highest-dose arm against the comparator, Tirzepatide trials
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
Regulatory status
FDA Philippines
Registered only as the branded prescription medicine Mounjaro (12 certificates).
US FDA
Approved for glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (Mounjaro); weight reduction in obesity or overweight with a comorbidity and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea in adults with obesity (Zepbound).Drugs@FDA: Mounjaro (NDA215866, approved 13 May 2022); Zepbound (NDA217806, approved 8 November 2023). The approval covers the named branded medicine for its labelled use only, never a vial of the same substance sold for research use.
European Medicines Agency
Approved for type 2 diabetes mellitus and weight management (Mounjaro).Mounjaro, EMEA/H/C/005620, authorised 15 September 2022. The authorisation covers the named medicine only.
How Philippine registration and prescription rules work, and what an unregistered product is under the law, is covered in the regulation hub, and every compound's status side by side is on the status page. This is general information, not legal advice.
Tirzepatide is sold in the Philippines as a registered prescription medicine; dated prices are on the Mounjaro price page.
Who should not use Tirzepatide
Everything above is research framing. For the material itself, our partner and supplier lists tirzepatide 15mg at Primara Labs for ₱2,100 (₱1,890 with 10% off), from stock inside the Philippines.
FAQ
Has FDA Philippines warned about tirzepatide vials?
Yes. FDA Advisory No. 2026-1019, 4 September 2026: The FDA warned the public against buying or using the unregistered drug product Peptatide Tirzepatide 15mg sold with Peptatide bacteriostatic water, which has no Certificate of Product Registration. FDA Advisory No. 2026-1020, 4 September 2026: The FDA warned the public against buying or using an unregistered 30 mg multi-use tirzepatide vial sold with bacteriostatic water, which has no Certificate of Product Registration. FDA Advisory No. 2026-0814, 30 July 2026: The FDA warned the public against buying or using the unregistered drug product Tirz Laine Tirzepatide 30mg/3 mL 99% Purity, which has no Certificate of Product Registration. The regulation hub lists every advisory with its source.
Is tirzepatide VAT-exempt in the Philippines?
FDA Advisory No. 2026-0065 added tirzepatide 2.5 mg to 15 mg per 0.6 mL solution for injection to the list of VAT-exempt health products for diabetes under the CREATE Act. The listing concerns the registered diabetes medicine; prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician.
Is Zepbound available in the Philippines?
A search of the FDA Verification Portal on 23 September 2026 returned no registered drug product for Zepbound. In the Philippines, tirzepatide is registered as Mounjaro, and Philippine pharmacies list Mounjaro rather than Zepbound.
What is the difference between Mounjaro and a research-grade tirzepatide vial?
Mounjaro is a branded medicine made by Eli Lilly, registered with FDA Philippines as a prescription drug in KwikPen form. Its approvals cover that named medicine for its labelled use only. A research-grade vial of tirzepatide is not a registered medicine, is not dispensed by a pharmacist, and is not a substitute for a prescribed pen. Prescribing belongs with a licensed Philippine physician. The Tirzepatide Philippines 2026 guide covers Mounjaro availability in Philippine pharmacies.
How does tirzepatide differ from retatrutide?
Tirzepatide is a single peptide that activates two receptors, GIP and GLP-1. Retatrutide is a single peptide that activates three receptors: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon. Lilly describes it as a first-in-class triple hormone receptor agonist. In the US, tirzepatide is approved as Mounjaro and Zepbound for their labelled uses, while the US FDA status of retatrutide is investigational.
What evidence exists for tirzepatide?
The evidence level for tirzepatide is phase 3 human. Completed human randomised controlled trials counted: 5 (SURMOUNT obesity trials in the trials dataset; the wider literature, including diabetes trials, is larger). Studied for: Obesity and overweight, obesity with type 2 diabetes, maintenance of weight reduction, and comparison with semaglutide. Key source: Jastreboff AM et al. N Engl J Med 2022 (SURMOUNT-1).
Where to get Tirzepatide in the Philippines
Mounjaro is listed by the major Philippine drugstore chains against a prescription; no Philippine registration has been identified for Zepbound. The Tirzepatide Philippines 2026 guide covers pharmacy prices and availability, and the regulation hub covers the legal framework for peptides in the Philippines.
Coskun T et al. "LY3298176, a novel dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus: From discovery to clinical proof of concept." Mol Metab 2018;18:3-14.
This page is editorial information for adults researching peptide therapy. It is not medical advice, not a prescription, and not an endorsement of any specific product, supplier, or protocol. Side effects can be serious and individual response varies. Talk to a licensed physician (ideally one with peptide-specific clinical experience) before starting any compound, adjusting a dose, or discontinuing therapy.
In the Philippines, GLP-1 medications are prescription-only under FDA Philippines regulation. Research-grade peptides occupy a regulatory gray area: import for personal research use is generally tolerated, but the Bureau of Customs reserves the right to inspect and detain shipments. Do not import for resale.
