Eli Lilly Chief Executive Dave Ricks disclosed in an interview that approximately 700,000 seniors have initiated GLP-1 treatments since Medicare expanded coverage of obesity drugs, with the vast majority of new patients selecting Lilly products. Ricks characterized the coverage expansion as positive for the company and the broader market, noting the rollout has proceeded largely as anticipated.
The coverage operates through a temporary program called “Bridge,” which enables qualifying beneficiaries to access weight loss medications with a $50 monthly co-payment. The federal Medicare program serves approximately 66 million individuals who are age 65 and older or living with disabilities. Available options under the program include Lilly’s Zepbound injection and newly launched Foundayo pill, as well as Novo’s Wegovy injection and competing oral formulation.
Ricks indicated that Lilly’s Zepbound injection has emerged as the primary beneficiary of the Medicare coverage expansion thus far. He attributed this performance to physician preference for injectable treatments in cases involving higher body weight and additional complications. Lilly’s oral alternative, Foundayo, has found a niche among patients seeking convenience and requiring smaller weight loss amounts, with Ricks noting that one-third of new patients adopting oral GLP-1 medications have selected this option.
Ricks reported minimal logistical complications in the program’s implementation, crediting the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with managing the rollout effectively and coordinating with pharmaceutical manufacturers and insurers. The comments provide updated market indicators regarding how Medicare coverage is broadening access to GLP-1 therapies and which competitors are gaining greater market share among newly eligible patient populations.
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