ELI Lilly’s zepbound weight loss drug is coming to Walmart Pharmacies

Patients will be able to access Eli Lilly’s prescription drugs at Walmart Pharmacide 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 valid prescriptions to pick up single-dose capsules at Walmart Pharmacide nationwide or choose home delivery.

Both are powered by Eli Lilly’s Direct-to-Domer platform, Lillydirect.

Lilly’s platform-to-Consumer, established at the beginning of 2024, is the company’s solution to improve the accessibility and availability of Blockbuster drugs because it allows other consumers to buy drugs directly from ELI Lilly without going through insurance.

Eli Lilly cuts the cost of certain doses of zepbound by at least 50%

The company said LillyDirect offers savings of 50% or more compared to the list price of similar obesity medications. Through Eli Lilly’s Direct-to-Domer platform, patients can access the first dose of zepbound for $349 per month. The price remains at $499 per month for all other doses.

However, to access higher doses, patients need to meet the requirements of the zepbound selfie hay hark program, the company said.

ELI Lilly’s Zepbound Reduces Type 2 Diabetes, Study Shows

This drug has been popularized for its weight loss effects since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023, but access to it has not always been easy due to insurance and coverage issues.

This drug has been gaining popularity due to its weight loss effects since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2023. (Reuters / Brendan MCERMD)

This drug is approved for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or morbidly obese conditions. It is considered a glp-1 agonist, a class of drugs for type 2 diabetes that improves blood sugar control but can also lead to weight loss. Semaglutide, the active ingredient in Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, is also considered a GLP-1 drug.

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The demand for drugs has been transferred mainly due to people using them off-label for weight loss. (David Allio / Icon Sportwire via Getty Images)

Even if patients have insurance, companies like Cigna often require pre-authorization of zepbound and include certain procedures such as BMI displays, comorbid conditions and previous attempts at treatment and previous attempts at treatment.

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The demand for drugs has been overwhelmed by people using them outside of the weight loss lab, leaving many patients who depended on them for approved methods to gain access.