Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said 700,000 seniors entered the weight-loss drug market through Medicare coverage after the program began covering obesity treatments in July, with Lilly medicines accounting for seven out of 10 new patients. Zepbound is the primary driver of that share, particularly among patients with higher body weight and more health complications. The temporary Bridge initiative allows qualifying beneficiaries to obtain prescriptions for $50 per month through Medicare, which serves about 66 million people. Ricks said one-third of new oral weight-loss drug users are choosing Lilly's Foundayo, which entered the U.S. market in April and is aimed at patients seeking a convenient format or smaller weight loss. Lilly held about 61% of the combined obesity and diabetes drug market in the second quarter, compared with Novo Nordisk's 39%. Foundayo generated $98 million in second-quarter revenue, while Lilly broke ground on a $6.5 billion Houston plant for active pharmaceutical ingredients used in Foundayo and other medicines.