Eli Lilly, a pharmaceutical company, has announced the release of a new form of its weight loss drug, Zepbound, at a reduced price in order to reach uninsured patients and expand the drug’s supply. The new offering includes 2.5-milligram and 5-milligram single-dose vials, priced at $399 and $549 per month, respectively. This move comes as demand for Zepbound continues to rise and cheaper generic versions of the drug become more prevalent. Zepbound is part of a class of medications called GLP-1s, which help to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar levels.
Previously, Zepbound was available in the form of single-dose autoinjector pens, which allow patients to easily self-administer the medication. However, the new vials are easier to manufacture and will help to increase the drug’s supply. Patients will need to use a syringe and needle to draw up the medicine from the vials, rather than using an autoinjector pen. While this may be less convenient for patients, the lower price points of the vials will benefit those who are willing to pay for the drug themselves and are enrolled in Medicare or employer-sponsored health plans that do not cover obesity treatments.
By offering the single-dose vials directly to patients, Eli Lilly is able to provide a transparent price and remove third-party supply chain entities, resulting in a more predictable pricing structure. Patients can purchase the vials from LillyDirect, the company’s direct-to-consumer site, which also offers a home-delivery option. Eli Lilly has partnered with Gifthealth, a third-party digital pharmacy, to process prescriptions and package and send the vials to eligible patients. The company aims to ensure that patients and healthcare providers are receiving genuine Zepbound and to protect the public from counterfeit or unsafe versions of the drug.
While Zepbound is currently listed as available on the FDA’s drug shortage database, there has been an increase in online platforms offering compounded versions of weight loss drugs, including Zepbound and other medications from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. These compounded medications are essentially copies of brand-name drugs and may not always contain the correct active ingredient. Eli Lilly is concerned about the proliferation of untested and unregulated anti-obesity medications and aims to provide access to FDA-approved and quality-approved tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound.
In conclusion, Eli Lilly’s release of a new form of its weight loss drug, Zepbound, at a reduced price aims to reach uninsured patients and expand the drug’s supply. By offering single-dose vials directly to patients, the company can provide a transparent pricing structure and ensure the authenticity and safety of the medication. While there may be concerns about counterfeit versions of the drug on the market, Eli Lilly is taking steps to protect consumers and provide access to FDA-approved treatments.
