Lilly to Expand Access to Zepbound: All Approved Doses Now Available in Vials Through LillyDirect’s Self-Pay Pharmacy Solutions
Eli Lilly and Company today made a significant announcement aimed at improving patient access to its obesity treatment Zepbound (tirzepatide). The company revealed that the highest approved Zepbound dosages — 12.5 mg and 15 mg — will soon be made available in convenient single-dose vials through LillyDirect’s Self-Pay Pharmacy Solutions. This expansion is a crucial step in helping more people manage their obesity and related health conditions, while reducing financial barriers to accessing medication.
Starting July 7, health care providers will be able to prescribe Zepbound’s 12.5 mg and 15 mg single-dose vials directly to their patients, with shipments set to begin in early August. This marks a significant milestone in Zepbound’s rollout, adding greater flexibility to the range of delivery options for this medication. Importantly, all Zepbound single-dose vials — from the 2.5 mg starting dose up to the highest 15 mg maintenance dose — are available for $499 per month or less through Lilly’s new pricing structure.
The pricing for Zepbound reflects Lilly’s ongoing commitment to helping patients manage obesity, a condition recognized by health care providers as a chronic disease with significant health implications. The 2.5 mg starting dose is offered at $349 per month, while subsequent 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg vials are all available for $499 per fill — a price designed to enable greater financial accessibility. This pricing applies to eligible adults with obesity and a valid prescription, regardless of their health insurance coverage.
“Obesity is a serious, chronic disease, and access to medications that can aid in its treatment should be treated with urgency — just as we do with other chronic health conditions,” said Rhonda Pacheco, group vice president of U.S. Cardiometaboltic Health at Lilly. “Lilly was the first company to introduce a self-pay solution for an FDA-approved obesity medication, and we remain passionate about expanding coverage for Zepbound. Making these highest-dose vials available directly to patients is another important step forward in helping people take control of their health.”
What Zepbound Is and How It Helps Patients
Zepbound is a prescription medication designed for adults with obesity or overweight individuals with related health problems to aid in weight reduction and maintenance. Zepbound may also be used to help improve obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in adults with obesity. Zepbound contains tirzepatide and should not be used in combination with other tirzepatide products or with other GLP-1 receptor agonists.
While Zepbound’s safety and efficacy for children remain undetermined, it offers a powerful new option for many adults battling obesity — a condition that can contribute to health complications ranging from diabetes to heart disease. Zepbound works by reducing appetite, helping individuals consume less and lose weight over time, alongside lifestyle modifications such as a reduced-calorie diet and physical activity.
Dosing and Pricing Guidelines
Zepbound’s starting dose is 2.5 mg administered once a week for four weeks. After the initial period, the dosage typically increases to 5 mg per week. Subsequently, health care providers may raise the dosage in increments of 2.5 mg after at least four weeks at the current dose until the patient reaches their recommended maintenance dosage — which can range from 5 mg, 10 mg, or 15 mg per week. Importantly, the starting 2.5 mg dose is not considered a maintenance dose.
The Zepbound Self-Pay Journey Program is designed to aid patients in their treatment by reducing financial barriers and offering reduced pricing for subsequent fills. The 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg vials — normally pricing at $599, $699, $849, and $1,049 — are all available for $499 for the first fill and for subsequent refills made within 45 days of their previous delivery.
Zepbound is also available in pre-filled autoinjectors, with dosage options of 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, or 15 mg per 0.5 mL injection. The 2.5 mg injection is meant for initiation and is not a maintenance dose.
Support and Appeal Resources for Patients
Lilly also offers extensive support resources for patients and health care providers through Zepbound.lilly.com. The website includes step-by-step guidance for navigating coverage appeals and submitting letters of medical necessity to insurers — helpful tools for patients whose insurers may initially deny coverage for Zepbound.
Clinical Study Data Highlights
In a 72-week study of adults without diabetes, Zepbound demonstrated impressive weight-loss results. Patients treated with Zepbound 5 mg saw an average weight loss of 15.0% (34 lbs), while those on 10 mg fell by 19.5% (44 lbs), and those on 15 mg fell by 20.9% (48 lbs). The placebo group in this study saw a loss of just 3.1% (7 lbs). The starting weights for the Zepbound groups were 226.8 lbs (5 mg), 233.3 lbs (10 mg), and 232.8 lbs (15 mg), while for the placebo group it was 231 lbs.
In another 72-week study involving adults with diabetes, Zepbound resulted in average weight losses of 12.8% (28 lbs) with 10 mg, and 14.7% (33 lbs) with 15 mg, while the placebo group fell by just 3.2% (7 lbs). The starting weights in this study were 222.4 lbs (10 mg), 219.6 lbs (15 mg), and 224.2 lbs (placebo). All participants followed a reduced-calorie diet and engaged in physical activity alongside their medication regimen.
Additional data from the study of adults without diabetes revealed that 15.3% of patients with 5 mg, 32.3% with 10 mg, and 36.2% with 15 mg achieved at least 25% body weight reduction (57-58 lbs) — far outperforming the 1.5% response in the placebo group. These results highlight Zepbound’s potent effects in helping patients lose a significant amount of weight alongside lifestyle interventions.
Individual results may vary, and Zepbound is not intended for cosmetic weight loss. Importantly, Zepbound may cause tumors in the thyroid, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Patients should watch for symptoms such as a lump or swelling in their neck, persistent hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath — and promptly tell their health care provider if any arise. Zepbound should not be used by individuals with a family history of MTC or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome 2 (MEN 2), nor by those with a history of a serious allergic reaction to tirzepatide or its components.
