Drugmaker Eli Lilly is rolling out a new model to make it easier for employers to provide access to its GLP-1 drugs for weight management.
Lilly said in an announcement that the model is built on three core elements. For one, it provides flexibility around benefit options for obesity care, allowing employers to design the benefits that work best for their unique workforces. In addition, the program leans on a dedicated pharmacy network that makes it easier for employers to understand and track costs, according to the company.
Eli Lilly is also bringing third-party organizations into the fold to support employers in developing holistic weight management solutions.
Lilly said the model will launch in early 2026, working with its partners over the next several months to refine the rollout.
“Obesity care is the next frontier in employer health benefits,” the company wrote in a post. “Companies that act now will lead the way, closing coverage gaps and building healthier, more resilient workforces.”
“Lilly stands ready to help them do it,” the drugmaker said.
Partners in this initiative include Waltz Health, a health tech company that provides marketplaces aimed at lowering drug costs, and 9amHealth, a virtual cardiometabolic care provider. Waltz said in an announcement that it will be making a direct-to-employer access model available on Jan. 1.
The program combines fixed pricing for obesity drugs with real-time eligibility checks, prescription routing and ongoing patient engagement to support their care management.
“Obesity management medicines are driving a major shift in care expectations, and employers are actively searching for solutions that make coverage both clinically responsible and financially viable,” said Mark Thierer, co-founder and CEO of Waltz Health, in a press release. “This model equips employers with the structure and visibility they need, while offering employees a seamless experience and a covered benefit they can actually use.”
9amHealth, meanwhile, has unveiled the “No Barriers Bundle” in partnership with Eli Lilly, which provides in tandem access to Lilly’s obesity drugs and 9am’s obesity care platform.
This creates an efficient and cost-effective way for employers to offer this care, according to 9amHealth.
“Employers want to do the right thing for their people—but rising healthcare costs and complexity have made obesity care coverage difficult to manage,” said Paul Geevarghese, co-founder and chief operating officer at 9amHealth, in the announcement. “We built these solutions to give employers transparency and predictability while ensuring employees receive safe, FDA-approved obesity management medications and clinically guided care. This collaborative effort is about making access sustainable, not just possible.”
Lilly said the new model and partnerships build on the recent news that the company had reached a deal with the White House to cut the price of its flagship GLP-1 drugs.