Lilly Expands Access to Obesity Drug Zepbound Through Walmart Partnership

Eli Lilly has announced a strategic partnership with Walmart to broaden access to its obesity medication Zepbound, marking a significant development in the pharmaceutical giant's direct-to-consumer initiatives. The collaboration, set to launch in mid-November, will allow patients to pick up Zepbound orders placed through Lilly's online service at Walmart pharmacies, offering a discounted cash-pay option that bypasses traditional insurance channels.

Retail Pickup and Pricing Strategy

The new partnership enables patients with Zepbound prescriptions to collect their medication at Walmart pharmacies when paying cash rather than using insurance coverage. Lilly has positioned this offering at a 50% discount compared to the list price of other GLP-1 obesity medications, aiming to make treatment more accessible to a broader patient population.

Through its cash-pay program, Lilly is offering Zepbound in vial form, as opposed to the auto-injectors available under other coverage options. The pricing structure is tiered, with the 2.5-milligram starter dose priced at $349 per month, while higher doses ranging from 5 to 15 milligrams are uniformly priced at $499 per month.

LillyDirect and Consumer-Driven Healthcare

This move builds upon Lilly's existing LillyDirect platform, which has seen significant traction in recent months. In the second quarter of 2025, 35% of new Zepbound prescriptions were filled through this direct-to-consumer channel, underscoring a shift towards a more modern, consumer-centric model of care.

Jennifer Mazur, Senior Vice President and General Manager of LillyDirect, emphasized the importance of this trend, stating, "The growth of LillyDirect's direct-to-consumer offering underscores the momentum behind a more modern, consumer-driven model of care. LillyDirect, powered by Walmart, builds on that progress — extending convenience and choice to patients while reinforcing LillyDirect's mission to empower more people on their health journey."

Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape

The partnership with Walmart is part of Lilly's broader strategy to combat challenges in the obesity medication market. These challenges include limited insurance coverage for weight loss drugs and competition from compounded versions of GLP-1 medications sold by telehealth companies at lower prices.

Lilly's approach also puts it in direct competition with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, another prominent player in the GLP-1 obesity medication space. By offering a more accessible pricing model and leveraging Walmart's extensive retail network, Lilly aims to differentiate Zepbound in an increasingly competitive market.