Ro begins offering branded Zepbound through its telehealth platform

Ro, a direct-to-patient telehealth company, announced on Dec. 13, 2023, that it had added Zepbound (tirzepatide) to its Body Program, expanding a weight-loss offering that already included Wegovy, Ozempic and Saxenda ^[1]. The move made Ro one of the early telehealth platforms to carry Eli Lilly's newly approved obesity drug, alongside options patients could access through an online visit and lab testing rather than an in-person doctor's appointment ^[1].

According to the announcement, Ro's Body Program launched in January 2023 and had grown into what the company called the most comprehensive weight-loss offering available via telehealth ^[1]. Patients could complete an online visit and lab work through Quest Diagnostics or an at-home collection kit, then work with a licensed provider to decide whether treatment was appropriate based on their goals, insurance and budget ^[1]. Ro also said it built in benefits verification to help patients understand insurance coverage, automated side-effect tracking, and a connection to Apple Health so patients could share weight data with their care team ^[1].

The company cited clinical trial results showing that people without diabetes who took the highest maintenance dose of Zepbound, combined with diet and exercise changes, lost an average of 48 pounds, or about 20% of body weight, over 72 weeks, compared with 3% for those who made diet and exercise changes alone without the drug ^[1]. Ro co-founder and CEO Zachariah Reitano said more treatment options and competition could lead to expanded insurance coverage and increased patient access ^[1]. Ro's chief medical officer, Dr. Melynda Barnes, said the platform aimed to pair access to Zepbound and other GLP-1 medications with ongoing personalized care and coaching ^[1].

The announcement included Zepbound's boxed warning, which states the drug should not be used by anyone with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2, because the drug caused thyroid C-cell tumors in rodents and its effect in humans is unknown ^[1]. Other listed risks include severe gastrointestinal problems, acute kidney injury from dehydration, gallbladder disease, pancreatitis, allergic reactions, low blood sugar in patients also taking other diabetes medications, and complications in people with existing diabetic retinopathy ^[1]. The most common side effects listed were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach pain, indigestion, injection site reactions, fatigue, allergic reactions, belching, hair loss and heartburn ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

This expansion meant patients could seek a Zepbound prescription through an online questionnaire, lab test and virtual provider visit, rather than solely through an in-person doctor's office ^[1]. For people in areas with limited access to specialists, this route could shorten the path to evaluation. Ro said it had helped patients in nearly every U.S. county, including 98% of what it described as primary care deserts ^[1].

At the same time, the source material comes from Ro's own press release, so its framing of convenience, coverage support and quality of care reflects the company's marketing description of its service rather than independent verification ^[1]. The listed boxed warning and side effects apply to Zepbound regardless of how a patient obtains a prescription, and the announcement does not address cost, insurance approval rates, or how telehealth prescribing compares with in-person care in terms of monitoring or outcomes ^[1].

What happens next

Ro's press materials show the company continued expanding its GLP-1 offerings after this launch, including adding Lilly's KwikPen delivery device for Zepbound and, later, Foundayo (orforglipron), Lilly's newer GLP-1 drug ^[1]. The sources do not specify dates for insurance coverage changes or say how many patients used Ro's platform to obtain Zepbound following this announcement.