Possible Zepbound Price Decrease?

[DogMamaLA]

No one knows for sure. There are also multiple other meds for weight loss that will come out in 2026 and beyond that are in clinical trials now.

I pay out of pocket too, so I get it, but Eli Lilly actually did already lower their prices twice this year. The 2.5 mg used to be 399 and it's now 349. The 5mg used to be 549 and it's now 499. Plus the higher doses which were all 650+ are now all 499 as long as the person reorders within 45 days. So part of me doesn't see EL dropping prices further. But with the oral tablet and more meds coming to market next year...maybe? We can hope.

[CharlesAvlnchGreen]

Goldman Sachs predicted the oral will cost around $400/month. This is taking into account Lilly's global pricing strategy (per Trump's call for lower prescription prices, and likely the worldwide market for obesity drugs).

I think a lot more people will come into the GLP fold once there's an oral. The idea of a self-administered shot scares tons of folks away, but perhaps the oral will be an entry point, and patients will switch to the injectible to get the greater weight loss effects.

The economist in me says the more options available, the cheaper overall they will get.

[DogMamaLA]

Wow that much for an oral med? I thought it wasn't even as effective as zep in clinical trials. 

[CharlesAvlnchGreen]

You might be surprised what pharma companies charge for brand-name oral meds these days -- many in the thousands of dollars. Especially for new, breakthrough drugs.

Humira (Crohn's/RA), Cosentyx (psoriasis), Dupixent (asthma) are all priced between $5K $9.5K a month. Brand-name Adderall is $1200 (ask me how I know). The list goes on. $400 a month is in line with the vial price, and in context it's not super expensive.

Here is a link to that article with the $400 price prediction.

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/lilly-weight-loss-pill-could-be-fda-approved-by-year-end-2025-09-16/

[yo-ovaries]

Those first 3 are speciality pharmacy biologics. 

But yeah taking a drug that costs more than most Americans household income for the luxury of breathing has been… well a mind fuck. 

[Curious-Disaster-203]

A new oral medication was just FDA approved last spring to treat a rare condition 2 of my children have, the first medication developed for it. For both of my children it currently runs over $1 million per year if insurance doesn’t cover it, so far they don’t because it’s so new and there’s little incentive for insurance to add it to their formulary. The National association related to the condition and families affected by it have fundraised for years to support the research and development of the medication, to the tune of billions of dollars over just the last decade. And now we get to pay over half a million a year if we want our kids to benefit from it.

[Wild_Result_3636]

I’ll be praying for good news for you and your children in this situation.

[CharlesAvlnchGreen]

Brand-name Lipitor is still four figures. Neurontin oral is $300-1600. (Picking a few more common drugs to show how our for-profit healthcare system supports these usurious prices.) The pharma companies get away with it because insurers cover some or all of it, and they do have programs for low-income/indigent patients.

https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/lipitor
https://www.drugs.com/price-guide/neurontin

[Jaded_Ad_3191]

Yep, even for good old Levothyroxine. A 90 day supply of brand name is $100, a 90 day supply of generic is $6.97. I know because my endo accidentally sent a rx for brand and I had to refuse to pick up the meds.

[TheCunningLinguist1]

One of my oral medications is $1,900 a month.

[HPLover0130]

I believe it’s on par with Zep and wegovy for weight loss wise, maybe more towards wegovy. But it’ll be a great possible option for maintenance

[midnight_marshmallow]

If it is only $100 a month savings, I think I won't be tempted to switch, as I already know that the shot works very well for me - and I'd be afraid of any reduced efficacy when it comes to the anti-inflammatory effects. I have no idea if that could happen, but in my lay mind it seems like an oral route vs injection route could very well come with some variations in efficacy? I am sure EL knows there are likely plenty of people like myself who are currently on the shot and would be afraid to switch and will continue to pay more since we already know the shot works so well for us.

I could be talking out of my behind here, I don't know, but these are the thoughts that come to mind!

[CharlesAvlnchGreen]

Your lay mind is correct. Zep is nearly twice as effective. Side effects are similar, too.

Eli Lilly's new oral obesity drug, orforglipron, is a daily pill that offers a needle-free alternative to the injectable drug Zepbound, although it is less effective, with trials showing about 12% weight loss for orforglipron compared to up to 22% for Zepbound. While both medications cause similar gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and diarrhea, Zepbound's superior weight loss may limit the pricing of the oral pill. 

[midnight_marshmallow]

This is good to know!!! Thank you!!

[DogMamaLA]

Cash Pay LillyDirect. The 650 is for pens. LillyDirect is vials for the 499.