Lilly’s Direct-to-Consumer GLP-1 Service Likely Doesn’t Threaten PBMs

15 Jan 2024

• By Peter Johnson

Pharmacy benefit experts say that the move is sure to improve market access for Lilly’s weight loss drugs, but they also say that the impact of the new service on PBMs is likely to be minimal.

Lilly corporate center — • Source: Shutterstock

Eli Lilly and Company decision to sell its glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs directly to consumers through a telehealth service called LillyDirect is sure to improve market access for the weight loss products, pharmacy benefit experts say, but the impact of the new service on PBMs is likely to be minimal.

LillyDirect will contract with “independent healthcare providers,” to prescribe the GLP-1 tirzepatide, known by the brand names Mounjaro and Zepbound,...