# Eli Lilly’s Zepbound Now Available at Pharmacies Across the U.S.
In this article, we will discuss the recent availability of Eli Lilly’s weight loss treatment, Zepbound, at pharmacies across the United States. Zepbound serves as an alternative to other obesity drugs, such as Wegovy, which are currently facing supply issues.
## The Growing Weight Loss Drug Market
Zepbound is the latest addition to the growing weight loss drug market, which is expected to reach a value of approximately $100 billion by the end of the decade. The high demand for these treatments has resulted in widespread shortages of other drugs, such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro. These supply issues give Zepbound, which contains the same active ingredient as Mounjaro, an opportunity to capture market share.
## Affordable Access to Zepbound
Eli Lilly has also introduced a commercial savings card program to expand access to Zepbound. Under this program, patients with health insurance coverage for Zepbound may pay as low as $25 for a one- or three-month prescription of the weekly injection. For patients whose insurance does not cover Zepbound, the cost for a one-month prescription is as low as $550, which is about half the drug’s list price.
## Preferred Formulary Addition
In addition to its availability at pharmacies, Zepbound has been added to the preferred formulary of Cigna, a major drug benefits company. Starting from December 15, Zepbound will be included in the commercial formularies of Cigna’s health-care business. This addition further enhances the accessibility of Zepbound for patients who need it.
## How Zepbound Works
Zepbound is an injection that is administered once weekly. The dosage must be gradually increased over a period of four to 20 weeks to achieve the target dose sizes of 5, 10, or 15 milligrams per week. The drug works by activating two naturally produced hormones in the body: glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). This combination slows the emptying of the stomach, making people feel full for longer and suppressing appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain.
With the availability of Zepbound at pharmacies and its inclusion in the preferred formulary of Cigna, Eli Lilly aims to make this weight loss treatment accessible to those who need it. Rhonda Pacheco, Eli Lilly’s group vice president for diabetes and obesity, emphasizes the importance of working together with employers, government, and healthcare industry partners to remove barriers and ensure widespread access to Zepbound.
Sources:
– [CNBC: Eli Lilly](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/LLY)
– [CNBC: FDA Approves Eli Lilly Drug Tirzepatide for Obesity](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/08/fda-approves-eli-lilly-drug-tirzepatide-for-obesity.html)
– [Eli Lilly News Release](https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/zepboundtm-tirzepatide-now-available-us-pharmacies-adults-living#:~:text=Following%20the%20U.S.%20Food%20and,retail%20and%20mail%2Dorder%20pharmacies.)
– [CNBC: Wegovy Heart Health Data and Insurance Hurdles](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/09/wegovy-heart-health-data-insurance-hurdles-costs.html)
– [AP News: Supply Issues for Wegovy and Ozempic](https://apnews.com/article/wegovy-ozempic-mounjaro-shortage-insurance-64014bc2887a518b33c597b2bf936e37)
– [CNBC: Novo Nordisk](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/NOVO.B-DK/)
– [CNBC: Cigna](https://www.cnbc.com/quotes/CI/)
