Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/TadaImages.com
Eli Lilly and Company is unveiling its new 7.5 mg and 10 mg Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials, which will be available for $499 per month using its new Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program.1 The prices of the 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials—introduced last summer2—have also been lowered to $349 and $499 per month respectively.
These are all found through LillyDirect Self Pay Pharmacy Solutions, a self-pay pharmacy component of LilyDirect which provides price transparency by removing third-party supply chain groups from the equation and instead, having patients access savings outside of insurance. Overall, the LillyDirect platform—launched in January 2024—offers resources for disease management, featuring access to independent healthcare providers, support, and direct home delivery of certain Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services.3
“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 healthcare system that provides comprehensive care, coverage, and payment of such care for people with obesity that is free of weight bias.”
As of now, it’s unknown as to whether the 12.5 mg, or 15 mg options will join that list of those with lower prices.
“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,” commented 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.”
In other Lilly news, the FDA recently approved Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in adults. The drug is is now approved in the United States for two types of inflammatory bowel disease.4
“The burden of Crohn’s disease on patients’ daily lives is substantial,” said Michael Osso, president and chief executive officer, Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. “This approval is meaningful for adult patients with Crohn’s disease, who now have more treatment options available.”
References
1. Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients. Lilly. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-additional-zepbound-vial-doses-and-offers-new
2. Tracy D. Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients. Pharmaceutical Commerce. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/lilly-introduces-single-dose-vials-zepbound-expanding-access-adults-obesity
3. Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients. Lilly. January 4, 2024. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-end-end-digital-healthcare-experience-through
4. FDA approves Lilly’s Omvoh (mirikizumab-mrkz) for Crohn’s disease, expanding its use to the second major type of inflammatory bowel disease. Lilly. January 15, 2025. Accessed February 25, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/fda-approves-lillys-omvohr-mirikizumab-mrkz-crohns-disease