Since Medicare began covering obesity medications in July, 700,000 seniors have started GLP-1 treatments. Eli Lilly now holds 70% of those new prescriptions, capturing the majority of the expanding market.

The access comes through a temporary federal initiative called Bridge, which charges eligible beneficiaries a $50 monthly co-pay. The program applies to the roughly 66 million Americans covered by Medicare, primarily those aged 65 and older or living with disabilities.

Lilly's Zepbound injection leads the uptake. "We're capturing about seven out of 10 of those new patients, and a lot are still on Zepbound," Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said. Doctors are directing the drug toward seniors with the highest body weight and the most serious health complications. Ricks added that prescribing habits remain concentrated on severe cases. "I think we still see physicians focusing on those with the most body weight and the most complications. That's where Zepbound plays a big role."

Competitor Novo markets both a Wegovy injection and a pill version for the same demographic. Foundayo, Lilly's oral GLP-1 launched in April, serves a different segment. The pill targets patients who prefer a convenient daily option and need to lose 25 to 30 pounds. One-third of all new patients prescribed oral GLP-1 medications are now taking Foundayo.

Despite the rapid scale-up, Ricks reported minimal logistical friction. He stated that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services "did a nice job rolling this out," coordinating with insurers and educating doctors ahead of the launch.