June 16 (Reuters) - U.S. drugmaker Eli Lilly ( LLY )

said on Monday it will offer the higher-dose versions of its

popular weight-loss drug Zepbound on its website LillyDirect,

with shipments starting in early August.

The company said the 12.5 milligrams and 15 mg doses of the

drug will be available for $499 per month on the website with

shipments to self-paying patients.

Healthcare providers can begin prescribing the 12.5 mg and

15 mg vials on July 7, the company added.

Lilly began offering vials of the two lowest doses of

Zepbound, typically sold in auto-injector pens, in August last

year.

In February, the company started offering the vials at a

discount.