Biotech Values

[DewDiligence]

LLY offers Zepbound in_single-use_vials_at_sharply_reduced_prices—(yesterday’s_news):

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/27/well/eli-lilly-zepbound-price.html

On Tuesday, Eli Lilly announced that it would start selling low doses of its weight-loss drug Zepbound in vials… — at a far lower price than its pens, which come with pre-filled doses. These vials will be made available only through LillyDirect, a telehealth platform the company launched in January (https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-end-end-digital-healthcare-experience-through ).

…The vials are significantly cheaper than Zepbound pens, which cost just over $1,000 a month without insurance. A month’s supply of the 2.5-milligram dose will cost $399, and a month’s worth of the five-milligram dose will cost $549.

… The company will offer vials with only the two lowest doses of Zepbound. Many patients stay on a five milligram dose… but some gradually increase their dose, up to a maximum of 15 milligrams. Any patient interested in taking more than the five-milligram dose would have to transition to the pens.

…the move could help Lilly regain customers who are currently getting compounded tirzepatide, which typically costs between roughly $250 and $450 a month.

Why would anyone want a compounded formulation of tirzepatide derived from Chinese API when they can get the real thing from LLY at close to the same price?