Eli Lilly is making it easier for people to access its weight-loss drug Zepbound by selling the two highest doses online—no insurance needed.
Starting early August, customers can order the 12.5 mg and 15 mg doses directly from the company's LillyDirect website for $499 a month or less.
This move means all approved strengths of Zepbound are now available through LillyDirect in single-dose vials, offering more flexibility for patients paying out-of-pocket.
According to FiercePharma, prescriptions for the higher doses can begin on July 7, the company announced on Monday.
The change comes as part of Lilly's effort to improve access to obesity treatments, especially for those whose insurance plans don't cover these medications.
"Obesity is a serious, chronic disease, and access to obesity medications should be treated with the same urgency as other chronic conditions," said Rhonda Pacheco, a vice president at Lilly.
"The availability of the two highest-dose Zepbound vials gives providers and patients another important treatment option."
Lilly first launched its direct-to-consumer pharmacy last year and has since lowered prices on all doses of Zepbound to help meet demand.
Eli Lilly will ship the two highest doses of its popular weight-loss drug Zepbound to cash-paying customers on its website starting early August, the US drugmaker said https://t.co/W72mFcgAYm pic.twitter.com/0yCJCbhHI5
— Reuters (@Reuters) June 16, 2025
Eli Lilly Expands Zepbound Access with Direct Sales
Rival company Novo Nordisk also recently dropped prices for its weight-loss drug Wegovy to compete, offering short-term deals to draw in self-paying users.
Insurance coverage for these drugs remains limited. Earlier this year, CVS Health announced it would remove Zepbound from some of its drug lists starting July 1, while continuing coverage for Novo's Wegovy after securing better pricing.
Both drugmakers have been battling for a share of the growing obesity treatment market, estimated to be worth as much as $150 billion, Reuters said. Data suggests that Lilly has taken the lead in prescriptions, despite Novo launching first.
To stop competition from unauthorized versions, the US FDA recently banned sales of compounded copies of these weight-loss drugs.
While those cheaper versions were once common during supply shortages, only FDA-approved options like Zepbound and Wegovy are now permitted.
Lilly's decision to sell directly to consumers also aims to push back against those unofficial copies and provide patients with safe, approved choices.
Join the Conversation