Eli Lilly is going beyond its efforts to sell its obesity drug Zepbound directly to patients, and is now trying to target employers.
Over two years ago, Lilly launched LillyDirect, an online platform that allows patients to buy Zepbound for a cash price of up to $449 a month without using insurance. On Thursday, the pharma giant said it was unveiling a new program that connects employers with a range of companies that offer new payment models outside of traditional insurance.
Many employers have been hesitant to cover highly popular obesity medications due to their significant costs. In the new program, Lilly will make Zepbound available at the same $449 price as the cash price. The third-party companies allow employers to subsidize part of that price by any amount they choose, such as $50 or $100 every month, and employees pay the remainder.
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