Lilly launches single-dose Zepbound to ease self-pay access

Eli Lilly has launched new single-dose 2.5mg and 5.0mg vials of its obesity drug Zepbound in a move that it said would make it easier for people paying for the drug out-of-pocket to afford treatment.

The new formulations – which will be distributed via the company's LillyDirect direct-to-consumer self-pay channel – are "at least 50% less than the list price of all other incretin medicines for obesity," claims Lilly.

The new vials – priced at $399 and $549, respectively, for a month's supply – are a lower-cost alternative to the current injector pen formulation of Zepbound and are easier to produce. However, patients will have to source their own syringes for the injections.

The move is an escalation of the battle between Lilly and Novo Nordisk in the fast-growing obesity drugs market, where Zepbound is in a head-to-head contest with the latter's Wegovy (semaglutide) brand.

Both companies have been struggling to meet massive demand for their products – Zepbound and Wegovy are both on the FDA's list of medicines in short supply – and a simpler-to-produce vial formulation could help Lilly to supply the market.

"We are excited to share that the Zepbound single-dose vials are now here, further delivering on our promise to increase supply of Zepbound in the US," said Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, in a statement.

"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," he added.

Jonsson pointed out that a 5mg maintenance dose has been shown in clinical trials to help patients achieve an average of 15% weight loss after 72 weeks of treatment.

The price of the vials is in line with Lilly's savings programme for Zepbound for people without insurance coverage for the drug – which is common as many policies do not cover obesity drugs – and also helps those not eligible for that scheme.

"Despite obesity being recognised as a serious chronic illness with long-term consequences, it's often misclassified as a lifestyle choice, resulting in many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage," said Jonsson.

He added that "outdated policies and lack of coverage for obesity medications create an urgent need for more innovative solutions."

The self-pay option in LillyDirect "enables a transparent price by removing third-party supply chain entities and allowing patients to access savings directly outside of insurance," said the drugmaker.

Lilly's move comes as Zepbound seems to be building momentum in the market – with second-quarter sales of $1.2 billion, way ahead of forecasts – at the same time as Novo Nordisk has reported the first signs of weaker growth for Wegovy.

The new launch has caught the attention of President Joe Biden, who said in a statement that it is "a welcome first step for American families struggling to access these drugs," but added that it is "critical that drug companies lower their prices across the board."