Making Weight Loss Medication More Affordable: A Step Forward
Eli Lilly has announced a reduction in the prices of its weight loss drug, Zepbound, for individuals paying out of pocket. This initiative is part of a broader effort to enhance accessibility to the medication.
Price Reductions
- Initial Dose Vials: Now $299/month (previously $349)
- Higher Doses:
- $399/month (down from $499)
- $449/month (down from $499)
Competitive Landscape
This price adjustment follows a similar move by Novo Nordisk, which reduced the prices of its weight loss and diabetes drugs:
- Wegovy & Ozempic: $349/month for existing cash-paying patients
- New Patients: $199/month for the first two months for the two lowest doses
Agreements with the Trump Administration
Eli Lilly's decision is also linked to recent agreements with the Trump administration aimed at making GLP-1 drugs more affordable. However, these agreements focus on a multi-dose pen form of Zepbound, which is still pending FDA approval.
Single-Dose Vials
- Current Form: Patients use a syringe and needle to draw and inject the medication.
- Introduction: Launched by Eli Lilly in August 2024.
- Market Impact: Direct-to-consumer sales now account for more than a third of new Zepbound prescriptions.
Company Commitment
Ilya Yuffa, President of Eli Lilly, emphasized the company's commitment to expanding access to their medicines. This includes developing different delivery devices and creating new pathways for patient treatment.
