Trumprx: President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk aimed at cutting the prices of some of their obesity medications, including upcoming pills. The move is designed to make these expensive, blockbuster treatments more accessible to Americans.Trump Announcement Today: GLP-1 Drugs to Become Affordable for Medicare and Medicaid BeneficiariesThe deals will reduce costs for GLP-1 drugs for Medicare and Medicaid recipients starting in 2026. The Trump administration also plans to sell the medications directly to consumers at a discount via a new website, TrumpRx.gov, launching in January. For the first time, Medicare will cover obesity treatments, which could encourage private insurers to follow suit. Certain Medicare patients will pay just $50 per month for all approved GLP-1 therapies, including those for diabetes and obesity, as per USA Today.Trumprx: Wegovy, Zepbound, and Upcoming Pills Set for Price CutsStarting doses of upcoming obesity pills from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, pending approval, will cost $145 per month for those using Medicare, Medicaid, or TrumpRx. Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy may enter the market by year-end, while Eli Lilly’s pill, orforglipron, could launch next year. Existing injections, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, will be available at $350 per month on TrumpRx, trending down to $245 per month over two years, as per NBC News.Trump highlighted that these drugs have rarely been covered by Medicaid and were previously not covered by Medicare for weight loss. “They’ve often cost consumers more than $1,000 per month… That ends starting today,” he said.Trump Announcement: Most Favoured Nation Policy Expands AccessThe announcements are part of the Trump administration’s ongoing push to tie U.S. drug prices to the lowest international costs under the most favored nation policy. Trump has previously reached similar deals with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and EMD Serono.HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said this move will have a “dramatic effect on human health,” noting that all Americans, including those not on Medicaid or Medicare, will benefit from lower GLP-1 drug prices.Eligibility and Coverage Under MedicareMedicare coverage will prioritize three groups:Overweight patients (BMI >27) with prediabetes or cardiovascular disease.People with obesity (BMI >30) and uncontrolled hypertension, kidney disease, or heart failure.Individuals with severe obesity (BMI >35).About 10% of Medicare beneficiaries are expected to qualify for GLP-1 therapy for obesity, cardiovascular, and metabolic benefits.Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Commit To Expanded DiscountsEli Lilly and Novo Nordisk also agreed to extend lower government pricing to all 50 Medicaid programs, provide most favored nation pricing on new medicines, and offer similar discounts on their existing drugs via TrumpRx.Eli Lilly will additionally reduce prices on its direct-to-consumer platform, LillyDirect, where Zepbound will be available starting at $299 per month for the lowest dose. Eli Lilly’s upcoming pill will start at $149 per month.Background on Obesity Drug CoveragePrevious efforts to cover obesity drugs under Medicare, including a proposal by former President Joe Biden, were not finalized due to costs and controversy. Health experts argue that broader access could reduce long-term expenses related to obesity-related conditions.Semaglutide is also slated for Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act, while tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, may not be part of such negotiations until the decade’s end.
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