Looking for a Zepbound® alternative?

The same proven GLP-1 + GIP medicine. Without the $1,000+ price tag.

Zepbound® can run well over $1,000 a month without insurance — and it spends half its life on the FDA shortage list. AvataCore connects you with a licensed U.S. provider for a compounded tirzepatide plan, the same dual-action GLP-1 + GIP class, starting at a fraction of the price.

$199

AvataCore intro price

20.9%

Avg. trial loss (GLP-1 + GIP)

1–2 day

Free shipping

See if I Qualify →2-min quiz · No card required · Same-day provider review
LegitScript Healthcare CertifiedLicensed U.S. compounding pharmacies100% US-licensed providersFree 1–2 day shippingCancel anytime

The part nobody explains clearly

It starts with proven GLP-1 + GIP medicine

The brand-name product you were looking for and AvataCore's plan both use a GLP-1 + GIP medication prescribed by a licensed provider — though they are different products, prepared differently.

The GLP-1 + GIP medication class

Tirzepatide (GLP-1 + GIP)

Studied in SURMOUNT-1 (NEJM 2022)

two ways to get it

The branded route

Zepbound® · Eli Lilly

$1,249+ /mo cash, without insurance

  • Routinely on the FDA shortage list
  • Insurance denials & prior-auth battles for weight loss
  • One fixed pen, one fixed dose ladder
  • Provider visits & follow-up often billed separately
The AvataCore route

Prepared for you

Compounded by a licensed U.S. pharmacy on your provider's Rx

$199 first 4 weeks · intro pricing

  • In stock — no shortage runaround
  • No insurance, no prior auth required
  • Dose personalized & titrated by your provider
  • Provider care, messaging & free shipping included

Compounded medications are not FDA-approved and are not the same as FDA-approved branded products. AvataCore is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. Eligibility is determined by a licensed provider.

Landmark clinical trials

What the science actually shows

Published results from the NEJM STEP-1 and SURMOUNT-1 trials of these GLP-1 medication classes. Trials studied branded products; compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary.

Diet & exercise alone2.4%
Semaglutide (GLP-1) — STEP-114.9%
Tirzepatide (GLP-1+GIP) — SURMOUNT-120.9%

Why patients make the switch

Built for you, not for a factory

A brand-name pen ships one fixed strength to everyone. Because your medication is compounded on a provider's prescription, everything adjusts to you.

💸

A fraction of the cash price

Branded tirzepatide pens routinely run four figures a month without insurance. Your compounded plan starts at intro pricing with provider care and free shipping included.

📦

In stock, no scavenger hunt

While branded pens sit on shortage lists, your medication is prepared by a licensed U.S. pharmacy and ships to your door — typically in 1–2 days.

🎯

Dose dialed in for you

Because it is compounded on your provider’s prescription, your titration is tailored to how your body actually responds — not a one-size factory pen.

Start the 2-min quiz →

No card required · Same-day review · Cancel anytime

From quiz to delivery

What happens after you qualify

No phone calls, no insurance forms, no waiting room. The whole process is online.

01

Take the quiz

2 minutes. No card required. Shares your health history and goals with a licensed provider.

02

Provider review

A licensed U.S. provider reviews your intake — typically same day.

03

Rx to pharmacy

If you qualify, your prescription goes directly to a licensed 503A compounding pharmacy.

04

Delivered in days

Your medication ships to your door in 1–2 days, free, with dosing instructions.

Common questions

Things people ask before starting

Is this the same as Zepbound®?+

No. Compounded tirzepatide is not Zepbound® and is not FDA-approved. It is a different product, prepared by a licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy on your provider’s prescription. What it shares with Zepbound® is the medication class — tirzepatide, a dual GLP-1 + GIP receptor agonist — the same class studied in the landmark SURMOUNT-1 trial.

Why is it so much less expensive?+

You are not paying for a mass-manufactured branded pen or its marketing. A compounding pharmacy prepares your medication directly on a provider’s prescription, and AvataCore prices it as one transparent line item — provider care, clinical messaging, and shipping included.

Do I need insurance or a prior authorization?+

No. There are no insurance forms and no prior-authorization battles. You complete a 2-minute quiz, a licensed U.S. provider reviews your history, and — if appropriate — writes your prescription.

Is compounded tirzepatide safe?+

Compounded medications are prepared by licensed U.S. pharmacies under state board oversight and 503A regulation, following USP 795/797 standards. They are different from FDA-approved branded products and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality. A licensed provider determines whether treatment is appropriate for you.

Ready to start?

A licensed provider reviews every intake and determines eligibility based on your medical history and weight-management goals. No card required to see if you qualify.

No card required to qualifySame-day provider reviewCancel anytime
Start a compounded GLP-1 + GIP plan — $199

Plans start at $199 for your first 4 weeks · Subscription auto-renews monthly until cancelled

Important: Compounded medications are NOT FDA-approved and are different from FDA-approved branded products such as Ozempic®, Wegovy®, Zepbound®, and Mounjaro®. They are prepared by licensed U.S. pharmacies under 503A regulation and have not been evaluated by the FDA for safety, efficacy, or quality. Brand pricing reflects publicly available retail cash estimates and is subject to change. AvataCore is not affiliated with Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly. Eligibility for treatment is determined by a licensed provider.

Trademark notice: Wegovy® and Ozempic® are registered trademarks of Novo Nordisk. Mounjaro® and Zepbound® are registered trademarks of Eli Lilly. AvataCore is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by either manufacturer.

Clinical trial data cited: Wilding et al., NEJM 2021 (STEP-1, semaglutide 2.4 mg, 68 wks); Jastreboff et al., NEJM 2022 (SURMOUNT-1, tirzepatide 15 mg, 72 wks). Trials studied FDA-approved branded products; compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Individual results vary. Brand pricing reflects publicly available retail estimates and is subject to change.