Eli Lilly has recently announced a significant drop in the cost of lower doses of its popular weight loss drug, Zepbound – but this price reduction is exclusively for individuals who pay out-of-pocket.
The medication will now be available in single-dose vials instead of preloaded injector pens, as stated by the pharmaceutical company on Tuesday. A four-week supply of the 2.5 mg dose will be priced at $399, while a four-week supply of the 5 mg dose will cost $549. Previously, the list price for a month’s supply of all Zepbound doses exceeded $1,000.
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“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,” remarked Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, in a statement.
The new prices are on par with what Lilly offers to uninsured individuals through its discount program and are half the price of other sought-after weight loss medications such as Wegovy, according to Eli Lilly. The introduction of the more affordable low-dose Zepbound vials aims to widen availability to individuals who are ineligible for the savings program and those lacking coverage for weight loss, including older adults on Medicare.
Zepbound, also known as tirzepatide, works by simulating post-meal hormones to aid in weight loss. This mechanism provides a sense of fullness to reduce appetite and food intake. Zepbound is designed to be part of a comprehensive plan involving increased physical activity and a calorie-restricted diet, as per the drug manufacturer.
For weight loss maintenance, Lilly recommends a 5 mg injection once a week as the starting dose. A 2022 study demonstrated that a 5 mg dose, combined with dietary changes and enhanced physical activity, resulted in an average weight loss of 15% over 72 weeks, contrasting with 3.1% for a placebo.
“Despite obesity being recognized as a crucial chronic condition with long-term repercussions, it is often miscategorized as a lifestyle choice, leading to many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage,” Jonsson emphasized. “Outdated policies and the absence of coverage for obesity medications underscore an urgent need for innovative solutions.”
Although the company has not announced price reductions for the higher 10 mg and 15 mg doses, individuals can acquire the Zepbound low-dose vials with prescriptions through Lilly’s self-pay pharmacy, LillyDirect.
Zepbound experienced a shortage starting from April, but the Food and Drug Administration removed it from its shortage list earlier in August.