Eli Lilly Cuts Zepbound Prices on Single‑Dose Vials to Expand Obesity Drug Access in the US | iPharmaCenter

Eli Lilly has cut out‑of‑pocket prices for its obesity drug Zepbound in the United States, lowering the monthly cost of single‑dose vials for patients who pay cash through its LillyDirect platform in an effort to broaden access to tirzepatide.​

New Zepbound vial pricing and regular prices

Under the updated Zepbound Self‑Pay Journey Program on LillyDirect, patients with a valid prescription can now obtain the starter 2.5 mg vial for about 299 dollars per month, down from roughly 349 dollars. The 5 mg strength has been repriced to about 399 dollars from 499 dollars, while higher doses — 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 mg — are now available for around 449 dollars per month, representing cuts of up to 200 dollars versus prior self‑pay pricing.​

Outside this self‑pay program, regular cash prices for Zepbound remain significantly higher: 599 dollars per month for 7.5 mg, 699 dollars for 10 mg, 849 dollars for 12.5 mg and 1,049 dollars for the 15 mg dose. All of these amounts compare with a list price a little above 1,080 dollars for a typical four‑week supply, before any rebates or insurer discounts, underscoring the scale of the discount offered through LillyDirect.​

These revised prices apply only to single‑dose vials purchased directly via LillyDirect and are aimed at people who are uninsured, under‑insured, or whose plans exclude coverage for obesity medicines, complementing any existing insurance‑based copay support.​

Strategy, competition and policy backdrop

The pricing changes arrive as GLP‑1 and GIP/GLP‑1 drugs transform the obesity and diabetes markets, with Zepbound and Mounjaro generating surging demand and helping push Lilly’s market value toward one trillion dollars in 2025. Rival Novo Nordisk has also been cutting self‑pay prices on its injectable obesity therapies, creating a more competitive environment in a class where supply constraints and affordability remain key concerns.​

Lilly’s move follows negotiations with the Trump administration around lowering net prices and expanding access to GLP‑1 drugs in federal programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. Alongside those policy efforts, the company is relying on LillyDirect and direct‑to‑employer arrangements to reach patients more directly, betting that lower cash prices and simplified purchasing will drive broader uptake while payers and regulators continue to refine long‑term coverage rules for anti‑obesity medications