A dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist. Health Canada has authorized Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for chronic weight management.
How strong is the human evidence?
- Cell & animal
- Small human studies
- Some randomized trials
- Large randomized trials
What is Tirzepatide?
Tirzepatide is a single peptide that activates both GIP and GLP-1 hormone receptors.
Health Canada issued a Notice of Compliance for Mounjaro on November 24, 2022, for type 2 diabetes. Zepbound, a separate tirzepatide product, was authorized on May 13, 2025, for chronic weight management in adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition.
Is Tirzepatide legal in Canada?
Authorized prescription drug (Mounjaro, Zepbound). Mounjaro's Canadian indication is type 2 diabetes; weight management is Zepbound's indication. Unbranded "research tirzepatide" is not authorized.
What the research shows
- SURMOUNT-1 (Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022): in 2,539 adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes), average weight change at 72 weeks was −15.0% to −20.9% across the three tirzepatide groups vs −3.1% with placebo.
What it doesn't show
- Results don't transfer to unregulated products whose contents and sterility are unknown.
Common questions
Is tirzepatide a peptide?
Yes. It is a synthetic peptide drug that activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors.
Is Mounjaro approved for weight loss in Canada?
Mounjaro's Health Canada indication is type 2 diabetes. Zepbound is the tirzepatide product authorized for chronic weight management.
Is there generic tirzepatide in Canada?
We did not find a generic tirzepatide in Health Canada's Drug Product Database when we checked on November 10, 2026.
Sources
- Health Canada — Peptides: Overview
- Health Canada Summary Basis of Decision — Mounjaro
- Eli Lilly Canada (Jul 9, 2025): Zepbound approved and available in Canada
- Health Canada Drug Product Database (searched Nov 10, 2026)
- Jastreboff AM et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity. NEJM 2022 (SURMOUNT-1)
Related
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