FILE PHOTO: Eli Lilly logo is shown on one of the company's offices in San Diego, California, U.S., September 17, 2020. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo

Dec 1 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly said on Monday it has lowered the price of single-dose vials of its popular obesity drug Zepbound to make the treatment more affordable for U.S. patients, as demand for weight-loss therapies surge.

Patients with a prescription can now buy the starting dose of 2.5 mg for $299 per month, down from $349, through LillyDirect, the drugmaker's online healthcare platform.

Price for the 5 mg dose drops to $399 from $499, while higher doses will now be available at $449 per month under Lilly's Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program, down from $499 previously.

The move comes a month after Lilly announced similar price cuts for Zepbound multi-dose pens, which are awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"Far too many people who need obesity treatments still face cost and coverage barriers," said Lilly executive Ilya Yuffa.

The price cuts come as Lilly rides a wave of surging demand for weight-loss medications that has propelled the Indianapolis-based company's market capitalization to historic heights.

Last month, Lilly became the first drugmaker to reach a $1 trillion market value, joining an elite club previously dominated by tech giants.

Lilly's stock has climbed more than 39% this year, fueled by explosive growth in the obesity drug market. Sales of its tirzepatide medication, marketed as Zepbound for obesity and Mounjaro for diabetes, have made it the world's best-selling drug, surpassing Merck's cancer drug Keytruda.

Zepbound is approved to help adults with obesity or overweight conditions lose excess weight. The medication is also approved to help adults with obesity and moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea improve their condition.

In November, Lilly struck a deal with the Trump administration to slash prices of its popular GLP-1 drugs for the Medicare and Medicaid programs, as well as for cash payers.

(Reporting by Kamal Choudhury in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)