Eli Lilly Partners With Amazon for Home Delivery of Weight Loss, Diabetic and Other Drugs

Drugmaker Eli Lilly partnered with Amazon Pharmacy to deliver prescriptions sent to its direct-to-consumer service, LillyDirect. Depending on a patient’s insurance coverage and other factors for the at-home prescription delivery service, Amazon Pharmacy or Truepill will deliver the medication.

Launched in January, LillyDirect provides consumers access to telehealth and pharmacy services. Through a virtual appointment, consumers are paired with third-party online pharmacies for prescriptions and providers to receive at-home delivery of their migraine, diabetes and obesity drugs, including Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug Zepbound.

“For many patients who start using insulin or injectable medications for migraine or obesity, this will be the first time they administer an injection. Amazon pharmacists can support medication management by providing guidance on administration techniques, drug interactions, side effects and cost considerations.”

Dr. Vin Gupta, chief medical officer, Amazon Pharmacy

Amazon Pharmacy offers two-day deliveries to consumers with an Amazon Prime membership, which applies to LillyDirect users. Along with home delivery, Amazon Pharmacy will offer 24/7 access to clinical pharmacists to answer questions about prescribed medications.

The partnership between Eli Lilly and Amazon comes at a time when there’s high demand for glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, which have been shown to reduce weight by as much as 20%. As consumers turn to these new weight loss treatments, J.P. Morgan Research forecasts that the market for obesity drugs is estimated to reach at least $100 billion by the end of the decade.

Employer Takeaways

GLP-1 weight loss drugs are popular and powerful—but also pricey. While LillyDirect aims to increase accessibility to weight loss drugs, these medications will still be out of reach for most Americans. The list price of a month’s supply is more than $1,000, and the drugs are often not covered by insurance. A coupon on Eli Lilly’s website brings the cost of Zepbound down to $550 a month, and patients can receive discounts if they qualify for the company’s savings card programs. Patients still need to meet the criteria for the weight loss drugs, which are meant for long-term use, not quick weight loss. 

Employers should continue to monitor health care trends, utilization and spending. Contact us today for more information.