Making Weight Loss Medication More Affordable: A Step Forward

Eli Lilly has decided to lower the prices of its weight loss drug, Zepbound, for people who pay out of pocket. This change is part of a bigger effort to make the medication more accessible to those who need it. The company announced that starting this week, the initial dose of Zepbound vials will cost $299 per month, which is a drop from the previous $349. Higher doses will also see a price reduction, now costing $399 and $449 per month, down from $499. This move comes after Novo Nordisk, a major competitor, also cut the prices of its weight loss and diabetes drugs. Novo Nordisk's drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, now cost $349 per month for existing cash-paying patients. New patients can even get the two lowest doses for just $199 per month for the first two months. Eli Lilly's decision is also tied to recent agreements with the Trump administration. These deals aim to make GLP-1 drugs more affordable and accessible. However, the agreement with Trump focuses on a different form of Zepbound, a multi-dose pen, which is still awaiting FDA approval. This means that the current price cuts on single-dose vials could help more patients get discounted treatments sooner. The single-dose vials of Zepbound require patients to use a syringe and needle to draw up the medicine and inject themselves. This form of Zepbound was introduced by Eli Lilly in August 2024. While it's unclear how many patients are currently using the single-dose vials, direct-to-consumer sales now account for more than a third of new Zepbound prescriptions. Eli Lilly's president, Ilya Yuffa, stated that the company will continue to work on providing more options and expanding access to their medicines. This includes offering different delivery devices and creating new pathways for patients to get the treatments they need.