Zepbound Vials Launched by Eli Lilly to Boost U.S. Supply and Accessibility

Eli Lilly has started selling single-dose vials of its popular weight-loss drug Zepbound. Release US Is in. It is intended to help patients who cannot get insurance to cover the drug. The new vials are available in two doses one is of 2.5 mg and 5 mg doses, which are the lowest doses of Zepbound you can get. A person can purchase them through the online platform of LilyDirect. The price is between $399 and $549 for a one-month supply.

Both Zepbound and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy have faced supply shortages due to soaring demand, as noted by the U.S. FDA throughout much of this year. Although the FDA currently lists all doses of Zepbound as available, the medication remains on the shortage list, alongside the lowest dose of Wegovy.

Patrik Jonsson, Lilly’s president of cardiometabolic health, emphasized that the introduction of these vials will substantially boost the availability of Zepbound in the U.S. market. He expressed confidence that the combination of auto-injectors and vials will meet the country’s demand, noting that many patients do not require higher doses than 5 mg.

Lilly’s pricing strategy for these vials represents a 50% discount compared to other GLP-1 class obesity drugs. For patients without insurance coverage for Zepbound, the company offers the medication in a pen form through LillyDirect for as low as $550. Currently, about 86% of commercial healthcare plans cover obesity drugs, but those without coverage, including Medicare beneficiaries, may have to pay over $1,000 out of pocket for a month’s supply.

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Lilly has already introduced vials of its tripeptide products including Zepbound in markets such as Australia, Canada, and Poland. The company recently raised its annual sales forecast by $3 billion. This is driven by increased manufacturing capacity and supplies of Zepbound, as well as its diabetes treatment, Mounjaro, which also contains tripeptide.