PoundsPunch Periodical 2025.02: FDA Cracks Down on Compounded Semaglutide, Eli Lilly Slashes Zepbound Prices, and Insurance Struggles Continue

Latest Updates on Regulation, Insurance, Pharma, and Patient Access in Weight Loss Medications

Welcome to PoundsPunch's Periodical of January 2025. This month, we cover:

• Regulatory & Government Updates: FDA moves to shut down compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide

• Insurance & Employer: Why insurers are still making it difficult to get weight loss medications

• Manufacturer’s Corner: Eli Lilly drops Zepbound prices and launches an ad campaign against copycats

• Patient Experience: Celebrities keep fueling the weight loss drug conversation—intentionally or not

 1   Regulatory & Government Updates

FDA Cracks Down on Compounded Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

The FDA has declared that the national shortage of semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) is over, meaning compounding pharmacies must stop producing these drugs. The agency has given compounders a 90-day grace period before it starts enforcement actions.

PoundsPunch Comment:

Well, there goes the cheaper, alternative supply of these meds. If you’ve been using compounded versions, expect prices to jump or be forced onto name-brand options. Also, don’t be surprised if some compounders fight back—this could get legally messy.

 2   Insurance & Employer

Weight Loss Medications Still Face Insurance Roadblocks

Despite the surging demand, insurance coverage remains a nightmare for many patients. While some large employers and Medicaid programs have started covering these drugs, Medicare still refuses to include obesity treatments, and many private insurers continue to impose strict requirements and prior authorizations. Check this AP article.

PoundsPunch Comment:

Insurance companies are dragging their feet—again. Unless you’re lucky enough to have an employer that values preventive care, you’re probably paying out of pocket. Medicare’s refusal to cover weight loss drugs is a policy gap that makes zero sense in 2025.

 3   Manufacturer's Corner

Eli Lilly Cuts Zepbound Prices to $499/Month

Eli Lilly has dropped the price of its higher-dose Zepbound vials to $499 per month for patients purchasing directly through its program. This move is clearly aimed at competing with compounded versions that were cheaper than retail.

PoundsPunch Comment:

Smart pricing move—Lilly wants to win back patients who were going the compounded route. Still, $499/month isn’t exactly cheap, and insurance coverage remains a hurdle.

Eli Lilly’s Ad Campaign Targets Unapproved Weight Loss Drug Copies

In addition to slashing prices, Eli Lilly is also running an ad campaign warning against non-FDA-approved weight loss drugs, urging consumers to stick to the official versions of Zepbound and Mounjaro.

PoundsPunch Comment:

Basically, Lilly is telling people: “If it’s not FDA-approved, don’t trust it.” While they’re not wrong about safety concerns, let’s be real—this is also a strategy to steer patients away from cheaper alternatives.

 4   Patient Experience

Scott Disick Accidentally Reveals Mounjaro Use on TV

During an episode of The Kardashians, reality TV star Scott Disick inadvertently exposed his use of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) when the camera caught a box in his fridge. The casual way this happened highlights how normalized weight loss medications have become in Hollywood.

PoundsPunch Comment:

Hollywood has been on the GLP-1 train for a while, but this just proves how casual and mainstream these meds have become. When your weight loss drug is just hanging out in the fridge next to the OJ, you know it’s a cultural shift.