About 700,000 seniors have started GLP-1 weight-loss drugs since Medicare began covering them in July. Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks disclosed the figure in a CNBC interview on Monday. Ricks said roughly 70 percent of the new patients are taking Lilly medicines rather than rivals’ products.

He called the rollout “very encouraging” and said it is expanding the GLP-1 market as the company had hoped. The coverage comes through a temporary demonstration program called Medicare Bridge. Eligible seniors pay about $50 a month for weight-loss GLP-1s.

Medicare covers roughly 66 million people aged 65 and older, plus people with disabilities. Ricks said Lilly’s injection Zepbound is the biggest winner so far. Doctors are choosing it for patients with the most body weight and the most complications, he said.

Lilly’s new oral pill, Foundayo, is also available through the program. Ricks said it appeals to patients seeking convenience and a modest weight loss of 25 to 30 pounds. Novo’s Wegovy pill and injection compete under the same name.

The surge is drawing a new wave of older patients into obesity treatment. Truveta Research reported the share of adults aged 65 and older prescribed GLP-1s grew 19 percent from June to July.