Lilly Launches Lower-Dose Weight Loss Drug at Half the Price
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Lilly Launches Lower-Dose Weight Loss Drug at Half the Price
On August 27, U.S. pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced on its official website that a lower-dose version of Zepbound (tirzepatide injection) is now available in the U.S. through Lilly’s self-operated online platform, “LillyDirect.”
Tirzepatide is a novel glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist administered weekly, marketed as Mounjaro for treating type 2 diabetes and as Zepbound for long-term weight management.
Zepbound comes in six dosage levels (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg), allowing patients to gradually increase their dose. Previously, regardless of the dosage, a four-week supply of the injection was priced at $1,059.87.
Under the new pricing structure, a four-week supply of the 2.5 mg dosage is priced at $399 ($99.75 per vial), and the 5 mg version costs $549 ($137.25 per vial), nearly half the original price.
Lilly explained that this move aims to expand the supply of Zepbound to meet the high market demand. Additionally, the lower-dose options will make the medication more accessible to millions of obese adults who are not covered by U.S. insurance.
According to data from the company’s website, in a 72-week study, patients taking the 5 mg dose of Zepbound experienced a 15% reduction in body weight, which, while less than the 20.9% reduction seen in the 15 mg group, still significantly outperformed the 3.1% reduction in the placebo group.
Lilly’s Senior Vice President, President of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, and President of Lilly USA, Patrik Jonsson, stated, “These new doses not only help us meet the high demand for obesity medications but also expand treatment options for patients seeking safe and effective therapies.”
Media analysts have noted that the original price of tirzepatide injections was already slightly lower than Novo Nordisk’s competitor Wegovy ($1,349), and the smaller doses could give Lilly a more significant advantage in the price competition. Additionally, Lilly can produce more medication with the limited active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) supply.
Morgan Stanley analysts stated in a recent report that although Lilly’s new pricing strategy might lower the average price of Zepbound in the short term, the sales volume of the lower doses could eventually positively impact Lilly’s overall sales.
Evan Seigerman, Managing Director and Senior Research Analyst at BMO Capital Markets, noted that Lilly’s lower-dose option improves patient access to the medication and greatly reduces the need for drug dilution through compounding pharmacies.
Lilly also mentioned in its statement that its self-operated website eliminates third-party supply chains, ensuring transparent pricing. Jonsson emphasized that this transparency, with no middlemen involved, is crucial for consumers, adding, “For patients, this makes pricing more predictable.”
On the same day, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer launched a similar website, “PfizerForAll.” Tim Mackey, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who researches the pharmaceutical industry, commented that large pharmaceutical companies might be gearing up for a direct-to-consumer sales race.
Mackey remarked, “This is indeed the next step forward, as the rise of telemedicine has led pharmaceutical companies to realize they need to enter this space.”
Lilly Launches Lower-Dose Weight Loss Drug at Half the Price
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(source:internet, reference only)
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