Lilly offers a weight loss medication that does not require injector pen
The weight-loss drug Zepbound are available now in single dose vials, the drug maker Eli Lilly announced Tuesday, an initiative that the company claims can “significantly” expand supply as it anticipates a continued rise in demand.
By Deidre McPhillips
CNN —
Starter doses of weight loss medication Zepbound is now sold in single dose vials, the drug maker Eli Lilly announced Tuesday, an initiative that the company claims can “significantly” expand supply as it expects to see continued demand.
Instead of using a preloaded injection pen, the patient make use of a syringe for drawing out the drug.
Tirzepatide is the main ingredient of Zepbound and Mounjaro is part of a new classes of medicines designed to combat diabetes and obesity that have seen a surge in popularity, creating shortages — and prompting people to take versions that are made by compounding pharmacies.
“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicine, but also broaden access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option,” Patrik Jonsson who is director of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA stated in an announcement.
These new bottles will become offered only to those who pay for their services out of pocket through LillyDirect which is a platform for companies that assists in coordinating the delivery of telehealth services as well as refill prescriptions for patients.
Four weeks of 2.5-milligram (mg) vials costs $399. A 4-week supply of 5-mg vials cost $529, or less than half of the cost of other GLP-1 medications for obesity, as per Eli Lilly.
The prices are comparable with Lilly’s savings program that is available to non-insured patients Lilly said. However, the option of paying out of pocket for the vials allows patients to access the product even if they aren’t able to benefit from this savings plan, for instance people who are on Medicare.
“Despite obesity being recognized as a serious chronic illness with long-term consequences, it’s often misclassified as a lifestyle choice, resulting in many employers and the federal government excluding medications like Zepbound from insurance coverage,” Jonsson declared. “Outdated policies and the absence of coverage for medications used to treat obesity result in a need for new and innovative solutions. In bringing Zepbound single-dose vials for patients will allow those suffering from overweight manage their chronic illness. We will also continue to fight in favor of a method that more is in line with scientific research.”
Vice President Joe Biden heralded Lilly’s announcement on Tuesday, citing it as an example of results of his efforts to cut the price of prescription medications.
“Today I am delighted to observe one of these companies, Eli Lilly, taking measures to reduce their prices by allowing consumers to purchase a direct-to consumer version of their drug at a fraction of the price they charge. This is a great initial step to help American families that are struggling to obtain the drugs they need,” Biden said in an announcement.
He said that it’s “critical that drug companies lower their prices across the board.”
Tirzepatide acts by mimicking hormones which stimulate production of insulin. It can enhance feelings of fullness, and decrease appetite. It targets two hormone receptors: GIP as well as GLP-1. Semgalutide is also commonly referred to as Ozempic for diabetes and Wegovy to reduce weight, is also a part of this large class of drugs.
The continuing shortages of tirzepatide as well as other weight loss drugs that are popular have made it possible for compounded versions of treatments containing similar or comparable ingredients to be introduced on the market without the oversight or supervision of authorities like the US Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA issued an warning this month concerning semaglutide compounded in a way The agency states that they have received complaints of adverse reactions that require hospitalization because of dosing mistakes related to measurement units as well as the different concentrations of products and use of multiple dose vials. The patients “should not use a compounded drug if an approved drug is available,” the agency stated.
Eli Lilly has also raised concerns regarding the dangers that compounded versions its medicines can pose to patients. in an open communication from June of this year, the firm stated its position as only the “only lawful supplier of FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines” and also that products from other sources that are not verified might contain “fake, counterfeit, or otherwise unsafe products.”
“[Safety] is our number one priority, and this is a great way for patients to know they’re getting genuine Lilly medicine,” said Rhonda Pacheco the group vice president of Lilly US Cardiometabolic Health. Many people use LillyDirect every week, she added.
The experience of those who inject themselves with the syringe which was made from a vial would likely be similar to the experience of using the prefilled pen and may also provide certain advantages, according to doctor. Jody Dushay, an endocrinologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an assistant medical professor within Harvard Medical School.
“It’s old-fashioned however I have patients suffering from type one and two diabetes who prefer vials and syringe over pen devices. I don’t think it’s an issue to make use of an insulin syringe as opposed to an auto injector unless one is extremely phobic about needles,” she wrote in an email. “It’s not that difficult to draw up a syringe, although the elderly, those with limited dexterity, and those with poor vision will be better off with the auto injector.”
The syringe and the vial may be able to provide some flexibility in dosages, particularly in the beginning Dushay stated. Patients might draw down lesser than 2.5 mg in the event of suffering from serious side effects, as well as less than 5 mg when they’re ready to increase, but not nearly at the same time.
In addition, most compounded variants of tirzepatide are sold in vials. Therefore, patients should be extra cautious about the drug’s source She also noted.
Clinical study results showed that patients who took 5-mg shots of tirzepatide lost approximately 15 percent of their weight after more than one year of treatment, in the average.
A separate study revealed that patients who used the injections of tirzepatide lost more pounds and had a higher chance to achieve certain weight loss goals over those who were using semaglutide.
CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report.