Lilly offers weight-loss drug Zepbound in vials to alleviate supply problems

Eli Lilly announced Tuesday that it will begin shipping low-dose vials of its obesity drug Zepbound through its direct-to-consumer platform, a move expected to ease supply shortages and attract more patients to the company's online portal.

Lilly is also selling the vials at a lower price than the currently available injection pens, which have a list price of $1,060 for a month's supply. Under the new offering, aimed at patients without insurance who cover their own costs, 2.5 mg vials will cost $399 for a month's supply, and 5 mg vials will cost $549, roughly equivalent to the average monthly payment on a used car.

Zepbound pens range in doses up to 10 and 15 mg, but Lilly currently offers only low-dose vials and will explore the possibility of selling high-dose vials later, Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president at Lilly, said in an interview.