Weight loss drug makers Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk struck deals with the Trump administration on Thursday to lower the prices of their popular weight loss drugs.
Prices for so-called GLP-1 drugs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries will be in effect starting in January 2026 — on the administration’s direct-to-consumer website, after it launches.
“This is a triumph for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions and millions of Americans,” Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
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What will the cost of TrumpRx be?
— Ozempic and Wego’s prices will drop from $1,000 and $1,350 per month to $350.
— Zepbound and Orforglipron, if approved, will drop from $1,086 a month to an average of $346.
The White House said that if the FDA later approves Wego’s pill or certain similar “GLP-1” drugs in each company to be taken orally rather than by injection, the initial dose of those drugs through TrumpRx will be set at $150 a month.
Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in a statement that “Novo Nordisk has always worked to ensure affordable access to our innovative medicines, and today’s announcement will bring semaglutide medicines to more American patients at a lower cost.”
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Under the new arrangement, consumers who are overweight and prediabetic, have had a stroke or other cardiovascular disease will be eligible, CNN reported.
Health care prices
— Medicare prices of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound will be $245.
– Medicare beneficiaries will pay a co-pay of just $50 per month.
In a statement, Lilly CEO Dave Ricks called the announcement a pivotal moment in American health care policy that was “made possible by working with the Trump administration.”
Commercial health insurers would also have access to prices that are estimated to be 25% lower than current cash prices, Reuters reported, citing officials.
The official added that the government will also extend GLP-1 coverage to overweight patients with prediabetes or heart problems, obese patients with comorbidities and severely obese patients, who represent 10% of Medicare patients, as part of the deal.
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Diabetes drug prices will drop
Eli Lilly will provide Trulicity, a commonly used diabetes drug, for $389 a month, a $598 discount from the list price, the White House said.
While Novo Nordisk will provide widely used insulin products, including NovoLog and Tresiba, for $35 per month.
Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly commit to further investment
Novo Nordisk has committed an additional $10 billion to invest in strengthening its domestic footprint. While Eli Lilly announced at least $27 billion in new US manufacturing investments.
