Lilly says the lower-cost doses will be offered only through the LillyDirect telehealth platform and will not be covered by insurance.
Eli Lilly has significantly reduced the prices of two of its lowest doses of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Zepbound, in an effort to expand access and facilitate supply. However, this change in pricing plan, experts say, may not be attractive to some patients. Under the new pricing plan, a month’s supply of the lowest dose, 2.5 milligrams, will cost $399, while a 5-mg dose will cost $549. This is a significant reduction from the monthly list price of $1,059, regardless of dosage.
The US drugmaker has said the cheaper doses will be offered only through Lilly’s telehealth platform, LillyDirect, and will not be covered by insurance. Experts say the move to have patients now pay out of pocket for the drugs and not be eligible for a discount savings program could backfire.
Lilly replaces auto-injector pens with vials
Lilly said prices were reduced because the drug will now be sold in vials instead of single-dose auto-injectors, meaning patients will now draw the drug from the vial with a syringe.
Experts say Zepbound users have long been asking for vial options due to Lilly’s supply issues, which they believe are due to the complicated manufacturing process required for the autoinjector pens. “These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicines, but also expand access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option,” Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly USA, said in a press release.
Many experts have questioned the benefits of these lower-cost versions, saying the price is too high for many racial and ethnic minorities.
Lilly, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has been under pressure to cut the cost of its hugely popular but expensive weight-loss drugs.
The company’s rival, Novo Nordisk, declined to say whether the company plans to reduce the cost of its weight-loss drug Wegovy. In a statement, the spokesperson said: “The most effective way for the millions of Americans living with obesity to have access to affordable medicines is to ensure coverage through government and commercial insurance plans.”
Who will have access to the lowest-cost vials??
Lilly said the lower-cost vials of Zepbound will give patients another option, particularly those who are uninsured or whose insurance covers the cost of the drug. Zepbound’s savings program excludes people who have government-run insurance programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Doctors can send prescriptions for the vials to LillyDirect, which will ship them directly to patients, the company said. Lilly says the switch to vials should help free up supplies.
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