$50 Mounjaro In India, UHG’s Handwaving Explained, & Employer Liability From PBM Tactics

Hey all,

Happy Monday. Mounjaro is now $50 per 5mg dose in India. I did the math and if we shipped a refrigerated container full from India to the US, it would only add about 40 cents per dose. At $50.40 vs. $250 here, we’re looking at potential savings of $199.60 per dose! Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Reuters) Eli Lilly Launches Mounjaro in India, Beating Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly has introduced its diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India, outpacing Novo Nordisk in a key market struggling with rising obesity and diabetes rates. Priced at around $50 for a 5 mg vial, the drug is far cheaper than its $1,000 monthly U.S. cost, though still considered expensive for many in India. Novo’s Wegovy has been approved in India but may not launch until 2025 or later. With such a price gap, a $700 round-trip flight from NYC to Delhi is starting to look like a surprisingly lucrative “medical tourism” opportunity. Full Article

(The Healthcare Breakdown) UnitedHealth Group’s 10-K

This deep dive into UnitedHealth Group’s (UHG) 10-K—a comprehensive annual financial report required by the SEC—reveals how the largest healthcare company in the world structures its business, generates revenue, and maneuvers financials to maintain profitability. The breakdown highlights key areas, such as UHG’s use of insurance “float” (holding premium dollars before paying claims), intercompany eliminations (moving money between subsidiaries to adjust reported costs), and its heavy reliance on taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid, which account for 74% of its revenue. Despite rising medical costs, UHG maintains high operating margins by cutting jobs and shifting money internally while spending $16.5 billion on stock buybacks and dividends rather than improving patient care. Full Article.

(Bloomberg Tax) PBM Contracts’ Fiduciary Risks

The Bloomberg Tax article, “PBM Contracts Could Expose Plan Sponsors to Fiduciary Liability,” examines the risks plan sponsors face under ERISA due to opaque Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) contracts that can lead to inflated drug costs and hidden fees. It discusses key PBM practices—such as spread pricing, rebate retention, and formulary manipulation—that may violate fiduciary duties if not properly monitored. Given executives can be held personally liable, these responsibilities should be taken seriously benefits managers. Full Article.

Hey all,

Happy Monday. Mounjaro is now $50 per 5mg dose in India. I did the math and if we shipped a refrigerated container full from India to the US, it would only add about 40 cents per dose. At $50.40 vs. $250 here, we’re looking at potential savings of $199.60 per dose! Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Reuters) Eli Lilly Launches Mounjaro in India, Beating Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly has introduced its diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro in India, outpacing Novo Nordisk in a key market struggling with rising obesity and diabetes rates. Priced at around $50 for a 5 mg vial, the drug is far cheaper than its $1,000 monthly U.S. cost, though still considered expensive for many in India. Novo’s Wegovy has been approved in India but may not launch until 2025 or later. With such a price gap, a $700 round-trip flight from NYC to Delhi is starting to look like a surprisingly lucrative “medical tourism” opportunity. Full Article

(The Healthcare Breakdown) UnitedHealth Group’s 10-K

This deep dive into UnitedHealth Group’s (UHG) 10-K—a comprehensive annual financial report required by the SEC—reveals how the largest healthcare company in the world structures its business, generates revenue, and maneuvers financials to maintain profitability. The breakdown highlights key areas, such as UHG’s use of insurance “float” (holding premium dollars before paying claims), intercompany eliminations (moving money between subsidiaries to adjust reported costs), and its heavy reliance on taxpayer-funded Medicare and Medicaid, which account for 74% of its revenue. Despite rising medical costs, UHG maintains high operating margins by cutting jobs and shifting money internally while spending $16.5 billion on stock buybacks and dividends rather than improving patient care. Full Article.

(Bloomberg Tax) PBM Contracts’ Fiduciary Risks

The Bloomberg Tax article, “PBM Contracts Could Expose Plan Sponsors to Fiduciary Liability,” examines the risks plan sponsors face under ERISA due to opaque Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) contracts that can lead to inflated drug costs and hidden fees. It discusses key PBM practices—such as spread pricing, rebate retention, and formulary manipulation—that may violate fiduciary duties if not properly monitored. Given executives can be held personally liable, these responsibilities should be taken seriously benefits managers. Full Article.