March 5 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly said on Thursday it had rolled out a platform to help employers connect with organizations offering low-cost benefits and comprehensive obesity-care programs, aiming to widen access to its blockbuster weight-loss drug, Zepbound.
Through Lilly Employer Connect platform, its multi-doseweight-loss drug device Zepbound KwikPen will be available tonetwork pharmacies at a discounted price of $449 for all doses.
The program provides employees access to weight-lossmedicines at lower out-of-pocket costs, and gives employers greater cost predictability and transparency “By enabling coverage outside traditional benefit designs,we lower barriers to treatment and give employers greatercontrol over how they support employee access to obesity care,”said Kevin Hern, senior vice president.
The platform enables employers to pair access to Lilly’s Zepbound KwikPen with a range of services that fit their workforce needs, including in-person or virtual clinical careand behavior-change support.
The platform currently works with 15 independent programadministrators, including GoodRx, Teladoc Health and Mark CubanCost Plus Drug Company, as well as pharmacies across thecountry, including dispensing pharmacies HealthDyne and CenterWell.
Lilly and its Danish rival Novo Nordisk have been tryingto expand access to their weight-loss treatments and eliminateunapproved, compounded versions, made by combining, mixing oraltering drug ingredients
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel)
