Zepbound Price Drop, What Is Ultra Processed, & PBMs + Pharma Cos Playing Games

Hey all,

Happy hump day! I've been watching Lilly's recent self-pay price reductions with interest and wondering about Novo Nordisk's response. Given Lilly's deeper pipeline and superior efficacy data from their approved medications, they appear poised to lead the obesity treatment category. Enjoy the rundown!

Jacob Brody (Co-Founder & CEO, ZorroRX)

(Fierce Pharma) Eli Lilly Makes Zepbound Vials Cheaper for Self-Paying Patients 

Eli Lilly has lowered the prices of its single-dose Zepbound vials, reducing the 2.5 mg dose to $349 and the 5 mg dose to $499 per month, aiming to make the obesity drug more affordable for patients without insurance coverage. The move comes as Lilly continues to compete with compounded versions of GLP-1 medications, which have gained traction due to past supply shortages. Additionally, the company is expanding its offerings with new 7.5 mg and 10 mg single-dose vials, available at a discounted rate for a limited time. Full Article

(STAT News) ‘Ultra-processed food’ is too broad a term to be useful

The growing scrutiny of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has led to regulatory and legal actions despite the lack of a clear definition or consensus on their health risks. While UPFs—ranging from chips to nutrition shakes—are linked to obesity and diabetes, they also improve food accessibility, shelf life, and affordability. Policymakers and researchers struggle to determine whether food processing itself is harmful or if health risks stem from specific ingredients. In response, some regulators, like the USDA Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, are pausing new guidelines, while states like Utah are focusing on specific additives rather than banning all UPFs. Full Article

(Cost Curve) Trends in Pharma and Health Care Consolidation

Brian Reid dives into a few stories including big insurers like CVS, United, and Aetna are pushing their own biosimilars through PBMs, boosting market penetration but raising legal concerns—evidenced by J&J’s lawsuit against Samsung Bioepis for alleged patent settlement violations. Meanwhile, pharma companies are scaling back on pricing transparency, with Novartis and Novo Nordisk halting disclosures. Lastly, PhRMA’s new report highlights faster innovation, with same-class drug approvals accelerating by 13 years. These shifts reflect growing tensions over pricing, competition, and industry consolidation. Full Article