GLP-1 therapies just got a whole lot less expensive for patients who pay out of pocket. Eli Lilly’s Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials are now available at rates similar to compounded versions of semaglutide. Patients can now access a four-week supply of Zepbound for as little as $399 for the 2.5 mg dose and $549 for the 5 mg dose, compared to $1,349 for Wegovy and $935 for Ozempic, both form Novo Nordisk. Wegovy is available in five different dose strengths: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg, each priced similarly. (With insurance and using Novo Nordisk’s savings card, eligible patients may pay as little as $25 for a 1-month, 2-month, or 3-month supply.)
This pricing strategy puts Zepbound in direct competition with compounded alternatives like those offered by Hims & Hers, which recently announced compounded semaglutide for as little as $199/month for customers who agree to a 12-month commitment. The compounded version of semaglutide, however, is not FDA approved.
Lilly’s stock ticked up today to $954.48 while Novo Nordisk was dipped slightly to 135.18 and Hims & Hers Health Inc. fell more than 5% following the announcement. 
Eli Lilly’s move to cut the price of Zepbound has received positive reactions from analysts who see it as a savvy move to expand market reach and address growing concerns over compounded medications. BMO Capital analysts praised the move for improving patient access and strengthening Lilly’s manufacturing position. Morgan Stanley, while acknowledging potential short-term pressure on average price estimates, “the incremental volume from vials could prove to be a positive offset,” it said in an article from Yahoo Finance.
Filed Under: Metabolic disease/endicrinology
