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Cailianshe News, August 27 (Edited by Zhao Hao)On Tuesday (August 27th) local time, Eli Lilly and Company announced on its official website that a smaller-dose version of Zepbound (tebuconazole injection) is now available in the United States and patients can buy it on Eli Lilly's own website "LillyDirect".

It is understood that tirpotide is an innovative once-weekly glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP/glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, which is marketed as Mounjaro for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and Zepbound for long-term weight management.

Zepbound has a total of six doses (2.5 mg, 5 mg, 7.5 mg, 10 mg, 12.5 mg, and 15 mg) for patients to gradually increase their dose.Originally, regardless of the dose, a four-week course of injection was priced at US$1,059.87 (approximately RMB 7,553).

According to Eli Lilly's latest pricing, a single 2.5 mg dose for four weeks is priced at $399 ($99.75 per bottle); the 5 mg version is priced at $549 ($137.25 per bottle), which is nearly 50% off the original price.

Eli Lilly said the move will help the company expand the supply of Zepbound to meet its high demand in the market. At the same time, this new option can help millions of adults with obesity who are not covered by US health insurance get the medicine they need.

According to data from the official website, in a 72-week study, the group taking Zepbound 5 mg lost 15% of their weight, which was not as good as the 20.9% loss of the 15 mg group, but still better than the 3.1% of the placebo group.

Source: Zepbound official website

“These new doses not only help us meet the high unmet need for our obesity medicines, but also expand access for patients seeking safe, effective treatment options,” wrote Patrik Jonsson, Lilly senior vice president, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and president of Lilly U.S.

Media analysis said that the original price of tebuconazole injection was slightly lower than Novo Nordisk's competitor Wegovy ($1,349), and the smaller dose will help Eli Lilly gain a more obvious advantage in the price war. In addition, Eli Lilly can produce more drugs based on the scarce active pharmaceutical ingredients (API).

Morgan Stanley analysts said in a recent report that while Eli Lilly's move may lower Zepbound's average price in the short term, the smaller-dose sales will ultimately "likely have a positive impact on Eli Lilly's overall sales."

Evan Seigerman, managing director and senior research analyst at BMO Capital Markets, believes that Eli Lilly has improved patients' access to medication through low-dose regimens, largely eliminating the need to use dispensing machines (to dilute medications).

Eli Lilly also mentioned in the statement that its own website helps eliminate the third-party supply chain and ensures transparent prices. Jonsson said this means there will be no middlemen making a profit, which is very important for consumers. "For patients, this makes pricing predictable."

On the same day, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer also launched a similar website "PfizerForAll." Tim Mackey, a professor at the University of California, San Diego who studies the pharmaceutical industry, said that large pharmaceutical companies may start an arms race to sell directly to consumers.

“This is really the next evolution, and with the rise of telemedicine, drugmakers are starting to realize they need to get into this space,” Mackey said.