Zepbound linked to lower healthcare spending among adults over 55 with obesity, according to real-world data

First-of-its-kind study finds sustained Zepbound use in older adults with obesity reduces costs, adding support for the potential value of Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge program

Patients treated with Zepbound saw fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits

Eli Lilly and Company announced findings from a real-world study of adults over 55 with overweight or obesity, showing that continued use of Zepbound (tirzepatide) for weight management reduced healthcare costs over time compared with similar adults who were not treated, driven in part by fewer hospitalizations and emergency room visits. Among adults over 55, including those enrolled in Medicare’s GLP-1 Bridge program, these reduced costs translate into meaningful savings within as little as 12 months of starting treatment. This is the first study of its kind focused on this age group, and the findings were published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Key findings

The study estimated cost differences over time, excluding the cost of Zepbound itself, using two established analytical methods. Both approaches showed, on average, lower monthly healthcare costs among patients who continued Zepbound compared with those who went untreated.

• By six months, costs were up to 15 percent lower, a difference of as much as $181 per patient per month.
• That gap widened by 12 months, with an estimated difference of up to $607 per patient per month, reflecting costs averaging as much as 38 percent lower than among untreated patients.
• In the primary analysis, adults over 55 treated with Zepbound had lower rates of hospital admissions and emergency department visits across every follow-up period, along with numerically higher rates of routine outpatient and office visits, consistent with greater engagement in ongoing care.
• Starting at six months, estimated healthcare cost savings nearly offset the $195 per patient per month treatment cost under the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program. By 12 months, estimated savings exceeded the cost of Zepbound treatment altogether, suggesting that sustained treatment in an aging population could produce meaningful net cost savings.

Ilya Yuffa, executive vice president and president of Lilly USA and Global Customer Capabilities, said this real-world evidence points to the impact that treating obesity with Zepbound can have on both older patients and the broader healthcare system. He said the analysis shows treatment costs can be reduced, and in some cases more than offset, by savings elsewhere in care, including for payers and within Medicare. He added that as coverage continues to expand across Medicare, state programs, and employer plans, this data provides evidence on the cost implications of long-term obesity treatment that could help inform future coverage decisions.

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Related Topics and Keywords

obesity, Zepbound™