Lilly launches lower-price weight-loss drug without injector pen [Video]

Starter doses of the weight-loss drug Zepbound are now available in single-dose vials, drug manufacturer Eli Lilly announced Tuesday, a move the company says will “significantly” expand supply as it sees continued high demand.Instead of a preloaded injector pen, patients will use a syringe to draw out the medicine.Tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound and Mounjaro, is part of new class of medications used to treat obesity and diabetes that have skyrocketed in popularity, driving shortages — and leading some people to use versions made by compounding pharmacies.“These new vials not only help us meet the high demand for our obesity medicine, but also broaden access for patients seeking a safe and effective treatment option,” Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Cardiometabolic Health and Lilly USA, said in a statement.The new vials will be available exclusively to people who pay out of pocket through LillyDirect, a company platform that helps coordinate …