People who are in need of weight loss medications but do not have insurance coverage will soon have a new way to access one of the popular medications, Zepbound. Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound, announced Tuesday it will begin selling the weight loss drug directly to consumers through the company's direct pharmacy, LillyDirect. With a doctors' prescription, consumers will be able to purchase Zepbound in vial forms that are about half the price of the auto-injector pre-filled pens sold in pharmacies, according to Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks.
A one-month supply of Zepbound at a 2.5-milligram dose will cost $399, while a one-month supply at a 5-milligram dose will cost $549, according to Ricks. "It's an exciting day for people who've been looking for a way to access and afford our weight loss medication Zepbound," Ricks told ABC News' Whit Johnson in an interview that aired Tuesday on "Good Morning America.
" "Now they can go to LillyDirect and, with a prescription from their doctor and a phone, access the drug in vial forms." Medical professionals can start filling prescriptions for the Zepbound vials on Tuesday via LillyDirect and the vials will start shipping in the days ahead. Ricks noted that the new option will be self-pay only and will not participate in insurance.
With insurance coverage, Zepbound can cost as low as $25 per month, but without coverage, the medication can cost more than $1,000 per month. Consumers who purchase Zepbound through LillyDirect will have access to.