Pharmaceutical manufacturer lowers prices for obesity and diabetes drugs

Eli Lilly announced Tuesday that it will reduce prices for two of the lowest doses of its GLP-1 agonist Zepbound, an antidiabetic and antiobesity drug, allowing patients possibly pay less than half of what they originally paid for a month's supply.

Lilly announced that it is launching its 2.5-milligram and 5-milligram formulations of Zepbound, a form of tirzepatide, in Single dose vialsThis product form is sold at a significantly lower price than the auto-injector variant.

• A month’s supply of the 2.5 mg dose costs 399$ ($99.75 per bottle).
• A month’s supply of the 5 mg dose costs 549 $ ($137.25 per vial).
• For comparison, a month's supply of 2.5 mg of Zepbound in the form of an auto-injector costs just over $1,000.

These discounted prices are only available through the company's self-pay pharmacy component. LillyDirectintended for patients whose insurance does not cover the cost of Zepbound.

Eli Lilly said this new product will help with supply chain issues and improve access for those who want to take Zepbound. Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president of Eli Lilly and Co., said releasing the drug in vials will help those whose insurance does not cover Zepbound.

This announcement comes nearly two months after President Biden and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, co-authored an editorial Criticism of the high cost of medication like Zepbound.

Sanders welcomed the news on Tuesday, but still took issue with the company's move.

• “Eli Lilly has still refused to lower the outrageous price of Mounjaro, which Americans suffering from diabetes desperately need. There is no rational reason, other than greed, why Mounjaro should cost $1,069 per month in the United States, but only $485 in the United Kingdom and $94 in Japan,” Sanders said in a statement.
• “And to be clear, even with this modest price reduction for Zepbound, millions of Americans will still not be able to afford the diabetes and weight loss medications they desperately need.”

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