What controversies surround Lilly's GLP-1 drugs?
List prices around $1,000 a month, lawsuits against compounders selling cheaper copies during shortages, and a November 2025 government deal setting a $245 Medicare price — with critics questioning the transparency of the arrangement.
Lilly's tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity, faces several disputes. Its list price, like rival Wegovy's, was around $1,000 a month, putting it out of reach for many uninsured patients. During shortages, compounding pharmacies sold cheaper copies; Lilly responded with lawsuits, including one against Seattle clinics that allegedly marketed compounded tirzepatide under a Zepbound-branded programme.
In November 2025 Lilly and Novo agreed deals with the Trump administration that set a $245 Medicare price and opened direct-to-consumer sales via TrumpRx, with the companies expected to receive a three-year tariff exemption in return. Critics question transparency around these deals, while supporters welcome expanded access.