# Lilly captures 70% of new Medicare GLP-1 patients

> Eli Lilly CEO says 700,000 seniors started weight loss drugs after Medicare coverage launched in July, with Lilly drugs taking the majority.
- Title: Lilly captures 70% of new Medicare GLP-1 patients · CNBC
- Summary: Eli Lilly CEO says 700,000 seniors started weight loss drugs after Medicare coverage launched in July, with Lilly drugs taking the majority. Seven hundred…
- Keywords: eli lilly, glp-1 drugs, medicare coverage, obesity treatment, zepbound, foundayo, novo, wegovy, business, finance, Lilly, captures
- Source: CNBC — https://cnbc.com/2026/09/21/eli-lilly-ceo-david-ricks-glp-1s-medicare-coverage.html
- Author: Annika Kim Constantino
- Published: 2026-09-21T18:13:48+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: eli lilly, glp-1 drugs, medicare coverage, obesity treatment, zepbound, foundayo, novo, wegovy, business, finance
## Medicare launches obesity drug coverage
A temporary program called Bridge launched in July, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to obtain weight loss drugs for a fifty dollar monthly co-pay. Medicare covers about sixty six million people age sixty five and older or with disabilities.
## Seven hundred thousand seniors start treatment
Eli Lilly C E O David Ricks told C N B C on Monday that seven hundred thousand new seniors have started G L P one treatments since Medicare coverage launched in July.
## Lilly captures seventy percent of patients
Ricks said seventy percent of those seven hundred thousand new patients are on Lilly medicines. He stated, we are capturing about seven out of ten of those new patients, and a lot are still on Zepbound.

> We're capturing about seven out of 10 of those new patients, and a lot are still on Zepbound.
## Zepbound leads among injection options
Lilly's blockbuster obesity injection Zepbound appears to be the biggest winner of Medicare coverage so far. Ricks said physicians focus on patients with the most body weight and complications, where Zepbound plays a big role.
## Foundayo gains traction among pill users
Lilly's newly launched obesity pill Foundayo targets patients seeking convenience who need to lose twenty five to thirty pounds. Ricks told C N B C that one third of new patients on oral G L P ones are taking Foundayo.
## Rollout proceeds smoothly so far
Ricks said he has not heard of many logistical issues with the rollout. He praised the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for doing a nice job rolling this out, educating physicians and working with companies and the insurance system.

> did a nice job rolling this out
## Key takeaway

Seven hundred thousand Medicare seniors have started GLP-1 obesity drugs since July coverage began, with Eli Lilly capturing seventy percent of new patients.