Eli Lilly & Co. has announced that its new weight-loss drug, Zepbound, is now available at pharmacies across the United States. This marks a significant development in the market as Zepbound offers an alternative to rival medications like Novo Nordisk A/S's Wegovy, especially as supply issues for weight-loss drugs persist.
Zepbound, which received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in early November, is designed as a treatment for individuals with obesity. Patients with a valid prescription can now obtain the drug, which was added to the list of available drugs for Express Scripts and Cigna Healthcare this month, according to a statement released by Lilly on Tuesday.
Rhonda Pacheco, Lilly's group vice president for diabetes and obesity, emphasized the need to collaborate with employers, government entities, and healthcare industry partners to ensure that Zepbound is accessible to those who require it. She stated, "We have to work hand-in-hand with employers, government, and healthcare industry partners to remove barriers and make Zepbound available to those who need it."
Zepbound is priced at $1,059.87 for a month's supply prior to rebates. This cost is cheaper compared to its competitor, Wegovy, a similar weight-loss injection manufactured by Novo Nordisk, which is priced at $1,349 for a month's supply. However, Lilly noted that patients with insurance coverage will not have to pay the full amount. It is worth mentioning that weight-loss drugs are not widely covered by many insurance plans at present.
Clinical trials have shown promising results for Zepbound, with patients receiving the highest dosage experiencing an average weight loss of 18% of their body weight. Although the trials for Wegovy are not directly comparable, Zepbound has demonstrated slightly better efficacy in terms of weight loss. This, coupled with the lower price, suggests that Zepbound is likely to gain more traction than its competitors, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Michael Shah. Shah estimates that Zepbound sales could potentially reach $26 billion by 2030.
Individuals with a valid prescription can now obtain Zepbound from retail and mail-order pharmacies nationwide, as stated by Lilly. The pharmaceutical company also mentioned that it is investing in expanding its global manufacturing capabilities to meet the anticipated demand for innovative weight-loss treatments. It is important to note that weight-loss and appetite suppressant drugs, including Lilly's Mounjaro, have faced supply issues in recent times. However, Lilly's efforts to ramp up manufacturing aim to alleviate potential supply constraints in the future.