How Much Does Zepbound Cost? The Weight Loss Drug Recently Got a Price Cut — It’s Cheaper Than Ozempic!

Weight loss drugs are all the rage right now. From the more popular options like Mounjaro or Ozempic – which is technically a diabetes medication that also helps with weight management – to emerging medications like WeGovy and Zepbound, there’s a variety depending on your specific health needs and what you can afford. Zepbound is slightly newer, which begs the question: How much does Zepbound cost? For those paying out of pocket – as insurance doesn’t cover every case –  it is cheaper than Ozempic. Keep reading to learn how drug manufacturer Eli Lilly hopes to make this weight loss drug more accessible and what a recent price cut means for consumers.   

How much does the weight loss drug Zepbound cost? 

Eli Lilly is expanding its supply of Zepbound, a weight loss drug with tirzepatide as its active ingredient. On August 27, the company announced that starter doses of the weight loss drug are now available in single-dose vials, in either 2.5 milligrams or 5 milligrams. Additionally, the vials don’t come with an injector pen and users will obtain the medicine through a syringe instead.   

According to Eli Lilly, the list price of a four-week supply of 2.5-milligram (mg) vials is $399, and a four-week supply of 5-mg vials is $529, which is less than half the price of other GLP-1 drugs. These prices are exclusively available to people who are paying out-of-pocket through LillyDirect, a platform that helps refill prescriptions and communicate with patients instead of relying on an insurance company. 

The cost of the new vials of Zepbound is like the company’s existing savings program for uninsured people, and the option to pay out-of-pocket has now expanded to people who aren’t eligible for the savings program.  

The new Zepbound vials are more accessible 

By branching out into single-dose vials, Eli Lilly is hoping to compete with digital health companies that sell compounded versions of weight loss medications and make these drugs more accessible to consumers.  

“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicine, but also broaden access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option,” Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, said in a statement. 

LillyDirect also delivers the medications right to people’s homes. This helps to eliminate any counterfeit or unsafe knockoffs that may be circulating.  

The company is working hard to see that the needs of its patients are met through its medications and more affordable options, particularly when it comes to medication approved for weight loss. 

“Despite obesity being recognized as a serious chronic illness with long-term consequences, it’s often misclassified as a lifestyle choice, resulting in many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage,” Jonsson said. “Outdated policies and lack of coverage for obesity medications create an urgent need for more innovative solutions. Bringing Zepbound single-dose vials to patients will help more people living with obesity manage this chronic condition. We will also continue to advocate for a system that better aligns with the science.” 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates Zepbound 

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With the shortages of tirzepatide and other weight loss drugs, other compounded versions of these medications with similar ingredients have been found on the market. The problem with those, however, is that they don’t get regulated or checked as often.   

The FDA has seen errors recently due to dosage amount and product concentrations and patients should always seek out approved versions over compounded ones. Those using Zepbound shouldn’t have to worry as Eli Lilly prides itself on safety.  

In a letter the company shared in June, they said that it is the “only lawful supplier of FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines” and that items from other places may be “fake, counterfeit, or otherwise unsafe products.” If you’re getting medicine from LillyDirect, it’s guaranteed to be legitimate, regulated and safe to use.   

This content is not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis. Always consult your physician before pursuing any treatment plan.

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