Eli Lilly has announced the availability of its recently approved weight loss treatment, Zepbound, at pharmacies across the U.S. Zepbound enters the competitive weight loss drug market, which is expected to grow to about $100 billion by the end of the decade. The drug contains the same active ingredient as Eli Lilly’s diabetes treatment Mounjaro, giving it an opportunity to capture market share amid ongoing supply issues faced by rival obesity drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro. Zepbound’s commercial savings card program, aimed at expanding access, is also now available. Under the program, eligible patients with insurance coverage for Zepbound may pay as low as $25 for a one- or three-month prescription, while those without coverage may pay as low as $550 for a one-month prescription, approximately half the drug’s list price.
Additionally, Eli Lilly announced that Zepbound has been added to the preferred formulary of major drug benefits company Cigna. The drug will be included in the commercial formularies of Cigna’s health-care business starting December 15, further expanding its access.
Zepbound is administered as a once-weekly injection, and the dosage needs to be increased gradually over four to 20 weeks to achieve the target dose sizes of 5, 10, or 15 milligrams per week. The drug activates two naturally produced hormones in the body, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), which work together to slow the emptying of the stomach, prolonging the feeling of fullness and suppressing appetite by slowing hunger signals in the brain. The availability of Zepbound in U.S. pharmacies marks the initial step, and Eli Lilly emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts with employers, government, and healthcare industry partners to remove barriers and ensure accessibility for those in need.
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