Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly (LLY, Financial) is intensifying efforts against low-cost generic versions of its weight-loss drug Zepbound by reducing prices for its smaller vial options. The company announced price cuts for 2.5 mg and 5 mg Zepbound vials to $349 and $499 per month, respectively, a reduction of about $50 from current prices.
Patients without insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs, including those on federal Medicare, have turned to these vials as they are roughly half the price of standard injection pens. However, these options require self-filling and administering the medication, presenting some drawbacks.
Last year, amid a shortage of weight-loss drugs, Eli Lilly began offering Zepbound vials. Due to supply constraints, consumers sought cheaper compounded versions from telehealth companies like Hims & Hers Health Inc., which offered them via subscription models.
Patrik Jonsson, President of Lilly's Cardiometabolic Health, highlighted this price reduction as a significant step based on consumer feedback. Additionally, Eli Lilly offers a 10 mg dosage for $499 monthly, provided patients refill their prescriptions within 45 days. This tiered dosing may encourage broader usage.
Thousands of Americans have turned to compounded weight-loss drugs, which are typically cheaper but lack the rigorous approval process of branded or generic drugs. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have taken legal action and issued public warnings against these versions, citing safety risks. The FDA has been urged to ban such generics.
With the shortages of Eli Lilly's Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro now resolved, Jonsson believes there is no future need for counterfeit weight-loss drugs. Patients can access Zepbound vials through Eli Lilly's consumer platform LillyDirect or telehealth partners like Ro.
