Eli Lilly cuts cash prices of Zepbound weight loss drug vials

Eli Lilly Lowers Price of Weight Loss Drug Zepbound

Eli Lilly has announced that it will be lowering the cash prices of single-dose vials of its popular weight loss drug Zepbound on its direct-to-consumer platform, LillyDirect. This move aims to make the medicine more accessible to patients, building on efforts by the company and the Trump administration. The price reduction comes after rival Novo Nordisk unveiled discounts on its obesity and diabetes drugs, highlighting the growing competition in the weight loss market.

Price Reduction Details

Cash-paying patients with a valid prescription can now access the starting dose of Zepbound vials for as low as $299 per month, down from $349 per month. The next dose, 5 milligrams, will be available for $399 per month, and all other doses will be priced at $449 per month, down from $499 per month. It’s worth noting that Zepbound carries a list price of roughly $1,086 per month, which has been a significant barrier to access for some patients due to limited insurance coverage for weight loss drugs in the US.

The announcement is part of a broader effort to increase access to affordable healthcare options. Eli Lilly’s deal with the Trump administration aims to cut prices for GLP-1 drugs, introduce Medicare coverage for obesity drugs, and offer discounted medicines on the government’s new direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx. While the deal focuses on a different form of Zepbound, the multi-dose pen, the current price reduction for single-dose vials could provide quicker access to discounted treatments for patients.

Expanding Access to Weight Loss Treatments

Eli Lilly’s president, Ilya Yuffa, emphasized the company’s commitment to providing more options for patients, including expanding choices for delivery devices and creating new pathways for access. With single-dose vials, patients need to use a syringe and needle to administer the medicine, a format that Eli Lilly introduced in August 2024. While the exact number of patients using single-dose vials is unclear, direct-to-consumer sales now account for over a third of new Zepbound prescriptions.

Novo Nordisk has also taken steps to make its obesity and diabetes treatments more affordable, lowering the price of its drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic for existing cash-paying patients to $349 per month. The company has also introduced a temporary introductory offer, allowing new cash-paying patients to access the two lowest doses of Wegovy and Ozempic for $199 per month for the first two months of treatment. As the weight loss market continues to evolve, it’s likely that we’ll see more efforts from pharmaceutical companies to increase accessibility and affordability for patients.