Eli Lilly’s Zepbound weight loss drug coming to Walmart pharmacies

Patients will be able to access Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drug Zepbound at Walmart pharmacies nationwide through its direct-to-consumer program as soon as next month.

The partnership between Eli Lilly and Company and Walmart, announced Wednesday, will allow people with a valid prescription to pick up single-dose vials of Zepbound at Walmart pharmacies nationwide or opt for home delivery.

Both are enabled by Eli Lilly’s direct-to-consumer LillyDirect platform.

Lily’s direct-to-consumer platform, which launched in early 2024, is the company’s solution to improving the affordability and availability of its flagship drug because it allows some consumers to purchase medications directly from Eli Lilly without going through insurance.

ELI LILLY reduces the cost of certain doses of ZEPBOUND by at least 50%

LillyDirect offers savings of 50% or more compared to the list price of similar obesity medications, the company said. Through Eli Lilly’s direct-to-consumer platform, patients can access the recommended starting dose of Zepbound for $349 per month. The price is up to $499 per month for all other doses.

However, to get higher doses, patients need to meet requirements for the Zepbound Self Pay Journey program, the company said.

A study shows that ELI LILLY’s ZEPBOUND product reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes

The drug’s popularity has soared for its weight-loss effects since it was approved by the food and Drug Administration in 2023, but access hasn’t always been easy due to insurance and coverage issues.

The drug’s popularity has soared due to its weight loss effects since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. (Reuters/Brendan McDiarmid)

The medication is approved for chronic weight management in adults who are obese or overweight. It is considered a GLP-1 agonist, a class of type 2 diabetes medications that improve blood sugar control but may also lead to weight loss. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, is also a GLP-1 drug.

CVS CAREMARK drops coverage of popular weight-loss drugs

Demand for the drugs has risen largely because people are using them off-label for weight loss. (David Aliu/Ikon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Even if patients have insurance, companies like Cigna often require prior authorization for Zepbound and include specific criteria such as BMI thresholds, comorbid conditions and prior treatment attempts.

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Demand for the drugs has risen largely due to people using them over-the-counter for weight loss, leaving many patients who relied on them for approved treatments struggling to access them.