Weight-Loss Drug Zepbound Now in Single-Dose Vials at Half the Price

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 27, 2024.

By Ernie Mundell HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, Aug. 27, 2024 -- Eli Lilly, maker of one of the blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drug Zepbound, says it will now offer the medication in single-dose vials at half the price currently available to consumers.

The new 2.5 milligram (mg) and 5 mg weekly dose vials differ from the standard preloaded injector pens that are used to administer Zepbound (tirzepatide) and competitors such as Wegovy (semaglutide).

Instead, patients will use a syringe to withdraw the liquid drug from the vial.

A four-week supply of the 2.5 mg vials will be priced at $399, and a similar supply of the 5 mg vials at $529 -- about half what a month's supply of other GLP-1 obesity meds cost.

There's one catch: Consumers can only order the new vials by paying out of pocket via LillyDirect, a company platform that coordinates telehealth services and fills prescriptions for patients, the company said in a statement.

Lilly said buying the vials directly from the company cuts costs by "removing third-party supply chain entities and allowing patients to access savings directly outside of insurance."

According to Lilly, the new, cheaper product fulfills two goals: Widening access to the sometimes tough-to-get meds, and thwarting what it says are potential unsafe copycat versions made by compounding pharmacies.

"We are excited to share that the Zepbound single-dose vials are now here, further delivering on our promise to increase supply of Zepbound in the U.S.," Patrik Jonsson, Lilly executive vice president and president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, said in the statement. "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."

Patients who fall outside of the Zepbound savings card program, those without employer coverage and those who need to pay out-of-pocket can now more easily access the drug, Lilly said.

The danger of unsafe versions of GLP-1 medications is real: Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that versions of semaglutide obtained from compounding pharmacies could be dangerous.

In its warning, the FDA said that some users of compounded products ended up needing hospital care due to dosing errors related to confusion over units of measurement, fluctuating product concentrations and the use of multiple-dose vials.

Lilly issued its own alert in June on the dangers of compounded tirzepatide, noting that it is the "only lawful supplier of FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines."

"Lilly is deeply concerned about the proliferation of online sales and posts on social media involving counterfeit, fake, compounded and any other unsafe or untested versions of what they say is tirzepatide," the company said.

Most consumers are flocking to Zepbound for its ability to curb appetite and bring about weight loss. According to Jonsson, the company's clinical trials showed that the 5 mg dose of Zepbound helped users drop an average 15% of their starting weight within 72 weeks of therapy.

Zepbound will still be sold in single-dose pen autoinjector versions at 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg per 0.5 ml doses.

"The recommended maintenance dosages are 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg injected subcutaneously once weekly," the company said.

Zepbound was launched by Lilly after the success of Mounjaro, the company's other form of tirzepatide, which is aimed at curbing diabetes.

Competitor GLP-1 meds include two forms of the Novo Nordisk drug semaglutide: Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for weight loss).

Sources

  • Eli Lilly, statements, Aug. 27 and June 20, 2024
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration, statement, July 30, 2024

    • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Posted : 2024-08-28 10:28

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords