Eli Lilly Lowers Cost Of Weight Loss Drug To Expand Access

U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY) is lowering the cost of its weight loss drug Zepbound as it seeks to expand consumer access to the medication. The company has announced that it is selling higher doses of Zepbound in single-dose vials at as much as half its usual monthly list price.Eli Lilly says it is aiming to reach more patients, particularly those in the U.S. who don’t have insurance coverage for the blockbuster weight loss drug. Specifically, Eli Lilly is offering higher doses of Zepbound in single-dose vials on its direct-to-consumer website called “LillyDirect.” The company said it is selling 7.5 milligram and 10 milligram vials of Zepbound for $499 U.S. per month when patients fill their first prescription, and any time they refill within 45 days.That cost is less than the $699 U.S. that is typically charged for a month of Zepbound, said Eli Lilly, which is also dropping the price of its 2.5 milligram vial to $349 U.S. per month. Patients must use a syringe and needle to draw the medicine from a single-dose vial and inject themselves. That approach differs from more expensive single-dose autoinjector pens that patients can directly inject under their skin with the click of a button.Eli Lilly said the vials are easier and cheaper for it to manufacture than the autoinjector pens, which cost roughly $1,000 U.S. per month before insurance deductions are applied. People on Zepbound begin treatment with a 2.5 milligram dose over four weeks before increasing the amount per week and later taking “maintenance doses” to keep the weight off. The lower price points for single-dose vials benefits patients who pay for Zepbound themselves or are enrolled in Medicare and other insurance plans that do not cover weight loss treatments. The stock of Eli Lilly has risen 14% over the past 12 months to trade at $881.40 U.S. per share.