Eli Lilly Launches Self-Pay Vials of Tirzepatide for Patients With Obesity
The announcement comes after the FDA declared the shortage of semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) has been resolved after being in shortage since March 2022.
Eli Lilly has launched 7.5 mg and 10 mg tirzepatide (Zepbound) single-dose vials as part of the Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program. The company said it will also reduce the price of the 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials through LillyDirect Self Pay Pharmacy Solutions. The self-pay program allows price transparency by removing third-party supply chains and allows patients to save outside of insurance.1
For the 7.5 mg and 10 mg vials, refills occur within 45 days of prior delivery. | Image Credit: Douglas | stock.adobe.com
"The OAC applauds Lilly for another step forward in improving the affordability of obesity treatment," Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), said in a news release.1 "However, we still have a long way to go in building a health care system that provides comprehensive care, coverage, and payment of such care for people with obesity that is free of weight bias."
Patients now have the option to self-pay for additional vial sizes, with the 2.5 mg vial costing $349 per month and the 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg costing $499 per month. For the 7.5 mg and 10 mg vials, refills occur within 45 days of prior delivery.1
"Every major medical organization and establishment recognizes obesity as a chronic disease, yet insurance and federal programs do not systematically cover people living with obesity for medical care—this needs to change," Patrik Jonsson, executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, said in a news release.1 "Lilly is committed to working with all parties to solve this problem, and in the meantime, we'll continue to implement new options that improve the affordability and availability of our safe, approved, and studied Zepbound for patients who are being asked to pay out-of-pocket."
The announcement comes after the FDA declared the shortage of semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) has been resolved after being in shortage since March (Wegovy) and August (Ozempic) 2022. Tirzepatide was also considered resolved on October 2, 2024, after being on the drug shortage list since 2022. After the decision for tirzepatide, the Outsourcing Facilities Association (OFA) filed a lawsuit against the FDA for the sudden removal of the drug from the federal drug shortage list, alleging that the action was taken without the required notice.2-4
In December 2024, the FDA affirmed the decision, stating, “Eli Lilly and Company, the manufacturer of the relevant tirzepatide injection drug products, has provided FDA with detailed information and data regarding its production and inventory of these drug products at various points in time, including stock reports that show quantities supplied and demanded and inventory held in stock for all strengths of these drug products.”3
Similarly, for the recent declaration of semaglutide, the FDA affirms that, as a result of a review conducted, the data from Novo Nordisk demonstrated that the supply of semaglutide currently meets or exceeds the demand for the injection product.2
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
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REFERENCES
1. Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients. News release. Eli Lilly. February 25, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-additional-zepbound-vial-doses-and-offers-new
2. Gallagher A. FDA Says Ozempic, Wegovy Shortage Resolved. Drug Topics. February 21, 2025. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.drugtopics.com/view/fda-declares-shortage-of-ozempic-wegovy-resolved
3, FDA. Declaratory Order: Resolution of Shortages of Tirzepatide Injection Products (Mounjaro and Zepbound). December 19, 2024. Accessed February 21, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/media/184606/download
4, Gallagher A. Outsourcing Facilities Association Sues FDA Over Sudden Removal of Tirzepatide From Drug Shortage List. Pharmacy Times. October 14, 2024. Accessed February 27, 2025. https://www.pharmacytimes.com/view/outsourcing-facilities-association-sues-fda-over-sudden-removal-of-tirzepatide-from-drug-shortage-list
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