Eli Lilly has slashed prices of weight loss drug Zepbound to fight counterfeits

Tirzepatide is part of a class of drugs called GLP-1, which act on a hormone receptor that controls appetite. Research suggests it may lead to even greater weight loss than similar GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic (which contain semaglutide) because tirzepatide acts on two hunger-related hormones instead of just one. It was approved by the FDA for weight loss in November 2023.

Previously, Zepbound was sold only in prefilled pens at a list price of $1,059 per month.

The move could ease shortages, patient advocates say, because vials are cheaper and easier to obtain than pens.

The new single-dose vials will be available to out-of-pocket customers and cost $399-$549 for a month’s supply, depending on the dose, although they require patients to use a needle and syringe.

The move is aimed at increasing access to the wildly popular drug, according to Lilly executive vice president Patrik Jonsson.

“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medications, but also expand access for patients looking for a safe and effective treatment option,” he said in the press release.

How copycats have taken over the weight loss drug market

By offering a cheaper alternative, Lilly is fending off a massive market of counterfeit weight loss drugs, many of which are illegal and potentially risky.

Over-the-counter versions of tirzepatide and semaglutide are sold online through a legal loophole, but they can carry a serious risk of contamination or overdose, a researcher previously told Business Insider.

Another class of copycat drugs, known as combination drugs, requires a prescription and offers some quality control, but is not yet FDA approved or regulated, so doctors say it can also be risky.

Lilly’s latest move is aimed at recapturing consumers looking for cheaper options and hitting counterfeiters with a one-two punch, alongside its efforts to crack down on copycat suppliers through lawsuits announced earlier this year.