Lilly study links Zepbound to lower costs in adults over 55

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced results from a real-world study suggesting that sustained use of Zepbound (tirzepatide) among adults over 55 with obesity or overweight was associated with lower healthcare costs compared to untreated individuals, according to a press release from the company.

The study, published in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, analyzed claims data from 15,843 adults with a mean age of 64.5 years who initiated Zepbound between November 2023 and September 2025. Each Zepbound user was matched with a control who did not use any GLP-1 or GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist medication.

Using two analytic methods, researchers estimated that monthly healthcare costs — excluding the cost of Zepbound itself — were between 12% and 15% lower at six months, representing a difference of $145 to $181 per patient per month. At 12 months, the estimated difference widened to between $319 and $607 per patient per month, reflecting 25% to 38% lower costs compared to untreated individuals.

Adults treated with Zepbound also showed lower rates of hospital admissions and emergency department visits across follow-up periods, along with numerically higher rates of routine outpatient and office visits.

The study noted that beginning at six months, estimated cost savings approached the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program's monthly treatment cost of $195 per patient. By 12 months, estimated savings exceeded that amount, according to the findings.

Because claims data do not capture Zepbound's net price, the study excluded drug costs from total healthcare costs. The reported differences reflect potential offsets to Zepbound's price rather than the overall net cost of treatment.

The study used data from Komodo's Healthcare Map, which includes de-identified claims from over 330 million individuals enrolled in U.S. healthcare plans.

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