Should Pharmaceutical Companies Sell Weight-Loss Drugs Directly to Consumers?
MedPage Today December 6, 2024
— Physicians, policymakers raise questions about LillyDirect connecting patients with telehealth
This story is part of a series called “Ozempic: Weighing the Risks and Benefits.” It was produced in part through a grant from the NIHCM Foundation.
Just a few months after Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide (Zepbound) was approved to treat obesity, the pharmaceutical company in January 2024 launched LillyDirect, a digital health platform for patients with obesity, diabetes, and migraine.
Pfizer — which is developing a once-daily weight-loss pill — followed this summer with PfizerForAll, a digital health platform for patients with migraine.
Both offer a connection with doctors right from their home page, albeit through third-party telehealth companies. These are the first two examples of pharmaceutical companies making quicker...