Investor sentiment toward Eli Lilly turned cautious last week, with the pharmaceutical giant’s stock declining approximately 4.5% over a five-day period. The move followed the company’s announcement of significant price reductions for its weight-loss medication, Zepbound, raising questions about the impact on future profitability in a key growth segment.
Strategic Price Reductions Aim to Broaden Access
In early December, Eli Lilly unveiled new pricing for single-dose vials of Zepbound through its direct-to-consumer platform, LillyDirect. The adjustments represent a substantial decrease across all dosage strengths.
The company framed the decision as a move to improve patient access. Ilya Yuffa, Executive Vice President of Lilly USA, stated that significant cost and reimbursement barriers continue to prevent many people who need obesity treatments from obtaining them. This pricing shift comes on the heels of a November agreement with the Trump administration designed to expand access to GLP-1 medications for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.
The revised monthly pricing is as follows:
* 2.5 mg starting dose: Reduced to $299 from $349
* 5 mg dose: Lowered to $399 from $499
* Dosages from 7.5 mg to 15 mg: Now priced at $449, down from $499
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Market Reaction Overshadows Regulatory Approval
Despite the strategic rationale, the market’s response was notably negative. Shares experienced a steady sell-off from Monday through Friday. The core concern among investors is that lower prices may dampen the revenue momentum of the critical obesity drug segment, where Zepbound is viewed as a major growth driver.
This bearish reaction persisted even as the company received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a new cancer therapy from its oncology portfolio. The positive news from this regulatory milestone was insufficient to counterbalance the market’s focus on the revised pricing strategy.
Eli Lilly’s stock concluded the week at €866.10 on Friday. This places the share price nearly ten percent below its 52-week high of €959.50, which was recorded just in late November.
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