Lilly’s $149 Foundayo Pills Drive Patients Away From $299 Zepbound Injections
LLY•Lilly’s oral Foundayo weight-loss pills, priced at $149 per month since April, cost on par with compounded GLP-1 formulations and undercut its Zepbound injectables that start at $299. U.S. doctors report growing patient demand has driven switches from personalized compounded drugs to FDA-approved Foundayo.
1. Foundayo Launch and Pricing
Eli Lilly introduced its oral Foundayo GLP-1 weight-loss pills in April at $149 per month, matching the monthly cost of compounded medications and undercutting its injectable Zepbound pens and vials that start at $299 for self-pay patients.
2. Patient Switching Trends
Endocrinologists note an increasing number of patients switching from personalized compounded GLP-1 therapies to branded Foundayo, citing comparable pricing, FDA approval and growing prescriber interest since the April launch.
3. Compounding Oversight and Market Dynamics
Compounded versions provide custom doses but lack rigorous FDA oversight, leading Lilly to expand pharmacy partnerships and use lower pricing to steer patients toward authentic, regulated weight-loss treatments.
