Eli Lilly announced a partnership with Walmart on Wednesday to expand access to its GLP-1 Zepbound through LillyDirect, marking LillyDirect’s first retail collaboration.
LillyDirect is Eli Lilly’s digital healthcare platform and direct-to-consumer online pharmacy service. Provides access to medications for patients living with obesity, migraines and diabetes. Patients have the option to use their insurance or pay for certain medications themselves.
Typically, patients who access Zepbound through LillyDirect receive free home delivery, but the partnership with Walmart also gives them the option to pick it up at their local Walmart pharmacy. Those with a prescription for Zepbound can access the medication for $349 per month for a 2.5 mg dose and $499 per month for all other doses.
Patients begin by submitting their Zepbound prescription to LillyDirect through their provider’s electronic medical record system. They can then choose home delivery or pickup at Walmart.
“Consumers crave choice and convenience in how they access care, including prescription drugs, and consumers demand price transparency,” Jennifer Mazur, senior vice president and general manager of LillyDirect, said in an interview. “This collaboration with Walmart combines LillyDirect’s digital expertise and Walmart’s extensive pharmacy network… to provide consumers with the option of free home delivery or in-person retail pickup at their local Walmart pharmacy. This truly ensures flexibility and confidence in how consumers access their Lilly prescription medications with continued price transparency.”
A Walmart executive echoed these comments.
“Life is busy, and this will help people discover new, easy ways to get their medications,” Kevin Host, Walmart’s senior vice president of pharmacy, said in a statement. “We are known for building great relationships with our patients, and our teams hope to do more of that by making this pickup option available through our trusted pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.”
Mazur added that LillyDirect chose Walmart as its first retail partner because of its large presence and its “shared commitment to making healthcare more accessible for patients.” The company has around 4,600 pharmacies throughout the country.
When asked if LillyDirect will expand to additional retail partners, Mazur said the company will “continue to explore ways we can expand access to care.”
A behavioral scientist said this partnership between LillyDirect and Walmart may offer more convenience to patients at a time when many face barriers to accessing GLP-1 for weight loss or diabetes.
“Allowing patients to pick up a GLP-1 at retail locations where they already shop eliminates friction and addresses many of these barriers,” said Dr. Amy Bucher, chief behavioral scientist at Lirio. “This convenience can lead to greater acceptance and better adherence for those initiating therapy. Beyond easier access to medications and refills, combining pharmacy pickups with routine shopping trips helps reinforce adherence habits. Direct-to-consumer models also empower patients who often feel confused or disenfranchised by the healthcare system, giving them more control and clarity in their treatment journey.”
Photo by Eli Lilly