"Eli Lilly and Company announced the launch of 7.5 mg and 10 mg Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials, available for $499 with the new Zepbound Self Pay Journey Programme. Lilly also reduced the price of the 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials. These new offerings are available exclusively through LillyDirect Self Pay Pharmacy Solutions, which enables a transparent price by removing third-party supply chain entities and allowing patients to access savings directly outside of insurance.
"The OAC applauds Lilly for another step forward in improving the affordability of obesity treatment,"" said Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition. ""However, we still have a long way to go in building a health care system that provides comprehensive care, coverage and payment of such care for people with obesity that is free of weight bias."
Self-pay patients with obesity now have additional Zepbound vial options, including 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg and 10 mg doses. In addition to expanding the doses available, Lilly is taking steps to make Zepbound vials more affordable, including:
Lowering the price of the 2.5 mg dose to $349 per month.
Lowering the price of the 5 mg dose to $499 per month.
Launching the Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program, which reduces the price of the 7.5 mg ($599) and 10 mg ($699) doses to $499 per month at first fill and refills that occur within 45 days of prior delivery.
""Every major medical organization and establishment recognizes obesity as a chronic disease, yet insurance and federal programs do not systematically cover people living with obesity for medical care — this needs to change,"" said Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA. ""Lilly is committed to working with all parties to solve this problem, and in the meantime, we'll continue to implement new options that improve the affordability and availability of our safe, approved and studied Zepbound for patients who are being asked to pay out-of-pocket.""
Zepbound is also available in 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg per 0.5 mL doses in a single-dose pen (autoinjector). The recommended maintenance dosages are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly. Those starting on Zepbound will take Zepbound 2.5 mg for four weeks before increasing their dosage to 5 mg.
Zepbound is the first and only dual GIP (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) and GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonist obesity medication. Zepbound tackles an underlying cause of excess weight. It reduces appetite and how much you eat. Zepbound is indicated for adults with obesity, or some adults who are overweight and also have at least one weight-related medical problem, to lose weight and keep it off. Additionally, Zepbound is FDA-approved to treat adults with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnoea and obesity. Zepbound should be used with a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It should not be used in children under 18 years of age or with other tirzepatide-containing products or any GLP-1 receptor agonist medicines. Zepbound has not been studied in patients with a history of pancreatitis, or with severe gastrointestinal disease, including severe gastroparesis, and it is unknown if patients with a history of pancreatitis are at higher risk for developing pancreatitis on Zepbound.
LillyDirect is a digital health platform offering disease management resources that make it easier for people living with chronic conditions to access quality care and personalized information, with the goal of improving lifestyle choices across diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management.