Eli Lilly lowering weight loss drug prices

Eli Lilly has cut the prices of its two lowest doses of weight-loss drug Zepbound by releasing them as single-dose vials, the pharmaceutical company announced Tuesday.

Eli Lilly said the two lowest doses of Zepbound, 2.5 milligrams and 5 milligrams, are now available as single-dose vials for significantly lower prices. This means that patients using single-dose vials will need to use a syringe to draw out the medication instead of an auto-injector pen.

A month’s supply of the 2.5 mg dosage will cost $399 while a month’s supply of the 5 mg dose will cost $549, according to the announcement.

The lower prices are only available as single-dose vials and through LillyDirect, which is the company’s telehealth program. Patients who use LillyDirect to get the single-dose vials would need to self-pay for the medication.

A one month supply of Zepbound’s auto-injector pens costs a little more than $1,000 without insurance. The low doses are also available with an auto-injector pen, but at a higher price than the vials.

Eli Lilly said this new product will help with supply chain issues and increase access for those looking to take Zepbound. Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Co., said that releasing the drug as vials will help those whose insurance does not cover Zepbound.

“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 said in a statement.

“Outdated policies and lack of coverage for obesity medications create an urgent need for more innovative solutions. Bringing Zepbound single-dose vials to patients will help more people living with obesity manage this chronic condition,” he added.

The announcement comes as the Biden administration has pushed for lowering the costs of prescription drugs. President Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wrote an op-ed last month calling out Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for the high cost of their weight loss drugs.