Eli Lilly announced Tuesday that it will significantly lower the prices of the two lowest doses of its weight loss drug, Zepbound, in an effort to expand access and ease supply constraints. The changes, however, come with new conditions that may not appeal to all patients. Under the new pricing plan, a month’s supply of the lowest dose, 2.5 milligrams, will cost $399, while a month’s supply of the 5 mg dose will be $549.
This is a considerable reduction from the previous monthly list price of $1,059. The lower-cost doses will only be available in vials, not the more convenient single-dose auto-injector pens, and will not be covered by insurance, meaning patients must pay out-of-pocket. Additionally, patients opting for these lower-cost vials will not qualify for Lilly’s discount savings program.
Lilly cited the complex manufacturing process of the auto-injector pens as a factor in its supply issues. By offering the drug in vials, the company aims to better meet the high demand and broaden access to its obesity medication. “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,” said Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly USA, in a press release.
However, some healthcare professionals are skeptical about who will benefit from the lower-cost versions. Dr. Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, noted that the new $399 price for the lowest dose is still prohibitively expensive for many, especially among racial and ethnic minorities. “The majority of patients will not be able to afford the medication, still,” Hurtado Andrade remarked.
She also cautioned that limiting the price cuts to the lowest doses might generate negative feelings among those who feel constrained to less effective options because of costs. On the other hand, Dr.
Eli Lilly reduces Zepbound lower doses
Shauna Levy from the Tulane Bariatric Center considers the move an “overall win” for the obesity community. She anticipates competitors like Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, may follow suit and lower their prices. Pressure on these major drugmakers has intensified, with political figures such as President Joe Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders urging companies to lower drug prices.
Novo Nordisk CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen is scheduled to testify about this issue before the Sanders’ committee next month. The lower-cost vials are particularly aimed at people without insurance, those whose insurance won’t cover the cost of the drug, or those who don’t qualify for the company’s discount savings program. Zepbound’s savings program excludes individuals on government-run insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist running a weight loss clinic in North Carolina, voiced logistical concerns about the transition to vials. He noted that initial attempts to use LillyDirect, a service for ordering the vials, were hindered by supply shortages.
The lowest doses, 2.5 mg, and 5 mg are typically used as starter doses before patients transition to higher maintenance doses like 10 mg or 15 mg, which are more effective. However, some patients may find the transition to using syringes challenging, particularly older adults and those with physical limitations. D Scott, a 46-year-old from Las Vegas, said she is uneasy about the prospect of having to draw up medication with a syringe due to tremors caused by other medicines she takes.
Scott, who has been on Zepbound for a month, is paying out-of-pocket for the drug through Lilly’s discount program, which ends in December this year. If her discount card expires without renewal, the vials could become a more affordable option, provided she can manage the new delivery method.
