Eli Lilly Makes a Bold Move: Offering Obesity Drug Directly to Consumers

Jan. 5,⁣ 2024 — Eli Lilly, ‌maker of the anti-obesity drug Zepbound, excitedly announced this week the launch of LillyDirect, a direct-to-patient portal, allowing some patients to obtain its drug ⁢for as little as $25 a month.

The move is seen as a major shift in the way these popular medications can reach patients.

For many of the 42 million Americans with obesity, weight loss medications such as Wegovy, Saxenda, and the brand-new ⁣Zepbound can be a godsend, helping them lose the excess pounds they’ve ⁤struggled with for⁣ decades or a lifetime.

But getting these medications has been a struggle for many who are⁢ eligible. Shortages of the drugs have been one barrier, and ⁢costs of up to $1,300 monthly – the price tag⁣ without insurance coverage – are another hurdle.

But 2024 may be a much brighter year, thanks to Lilly’s new portal as‍ well as other developments:

• Insurance ⁣coverage ⁣on private health plans, while still spotty, may ​be improving. Federal legislators are fighting a ⁤2003 law that forbids Medicare from paying for the medications when prescribed for ⁢obesity.
• New research found that semaglutide (Wegovy) can ‌reduce‌ the⁣ risk of recurrent strokes and heart attacks as well as deaths from cardiovascular​ events in those with obesity and ⁤preexisting cardiovascular disease (or diseases of the heart and blood vessels), a finding experts said should get the attention of health insurers.

The‌ medications, also referred to as GLP-1 agonists, work by activating the receptors of⁤ hormones ⁤(called glucagon-like peptide 1 and others) that ​are naturally released after eating. That, in turn, makes you feel more full,⁤ leading to weight loss of up to 22% for some. The medications are approved for those with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or a BMI of 27 with ⁤at least one other weight-related health condition such as high blood pressure ⁣or high cholesterol. The medicines, injected weekly or more often, are prescribed along with advice about a reduced-calorie diet ⁣and increased physical activity.

LillyDirect

Eli Lilly launched its direct-to-patient portal on⁣ Thursday, providing its obesity medicine (as well as diabetes and migraine drugs) direct to the consumer. Patients can access the obesity medicines through the telehealth platform FORM. Patients reach independent telehealth providers, according to Lilly, who can complement a patient’s⁣ current doctor or be an alternative to in-patient care in some cases.

Costs vary, depending on coverage, but a 1-month or 3-month ⁤supply for someone with commercial insurance coverage could be as⁣ little as $25 a month;​ those with an insurance plan that does not cover the drug could pay $550 for a ⁢one-month supply, according to Lilly.

Eli Lilly officials did not respond to requests for comment.

Some obesity experts welcomed the new service. “Any program that improves availability and affordability of these ground-breaking medications is welcome news for ‍our long-suffering patients,” said Louis Aronne,

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