Eli Lilly has unveiled a new, more affordable form of its weight loss drug Zepbound. The company is offering single-dose vials of the popular medication at approximately half the usual monthly list price, aiming to make the drug more accessible to a wider range of patients.
The newly released vials, available in 2.5-milligram and 5-milligram doses, are priced at $399 and $549 per month, respectively. This contrasts sharply with the typical $1,000 monthly cost of other similar GLP-1 medications, such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy. The lower price is intended to benefit patients who pay out-of-pocket and are not covered by insurance or Medicare, which often excludes obesity treatments from coverage.
Patrik Jonsson, president of Eli Lilly's diabetes and obesity division, highlighted the importance of this initiative. "Despite obesity being recognized as a serious chronic illness with long-term consequences, it's often misclassified as a lifestyle choice, resulting in many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage," Jonsson stated. By making the vials available directly through Eli Lilly's new platform, LillyDirect, the company aims to remove third-party markups and provide a transparent pricing model.
The introduction of single-dose vials comes as part of Eli Lilly's broader strategy to address supply chain issues and counteract the proliferation of counterfeit versions of Zepbound. The drug's active ingredient, tirzepatide, is part of a new class of medications that has seen soaring demand, leading to significant shortages. These shortages have created opportunities for compounded versions of the drug to enter the market, often with less regulatory oversight and potentially harmful inconsistencies.
To combat these issues, Eli Lilly has partnered with Gifthealth, a third-party digital pharmacy, to process prescriptions and ensure the authenticity of the medication. Patients will also have the option to purchase syringes and needles from LillyDirect and access instructional materials on how to administer Zepbound from a vial. This move is designed to enhance the safety and reliability of the drug's distribution, ensuring that patients receive genuine, FDA-approved medication.
Jonsson emphasized the critical role of these vials in expanding access to the medication. "These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicine but also broaden access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option," he said. The vials are expected to be a key factor in alleviating the shortages and ensuring that patients can obtain Zepbound without resorting to unregulated alternatives.
Rhonda Pacheco, group vice president for Lilly US Cardiometabolic Health, underscored the significance of this initiative for patient safety. "Safety is our number one priority, and this is a great way for patients to know they're getting genuine Lilly medicine," Pacheco said. The company's efforts also reflect a broader concern over the quality and safety of compounded drugs, which have recently come under scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA has issued warnings about the risks associated with compounded versions of similar medications, including issues with dosing errors and product concentrations. The agency has advised patients to avoid compounded drugs when FDA-approved alternatives are available, reinforcing the importance of obtaining medications from reliable sources.
Dr. Jody Dushay, an endocrinologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, noted that while the transition from prefilled pens to vials may seem outdated, it offers certain advantages. "It's old school, but I have patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes who prefer vial and syringe to pen devices," Dushay explained. She highlighted that vials might provide more flexibility in dosing, particularly for starting levels.
