President Trump on Thursday announced an agreement that would significantly lower the cost of weight-loss drugs for some Americans.
“Today, I am very pleased to announce that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, two of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, have agreed to offer the most popular GLP-1 weight loss drug (I call it the fat drug, remember) at a deeply discounted price,” the president announced from the Oval Office.
Under the deal, Zepbound maker Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, agreed to lower the price of the weight loss drug for eligible patients and eligible users on Medicare, Medicaid. Planned “TrumpRx” Pharmaceutical website.
The monthly price for most eligible people will average $245 to $350 per month, administration officials said. The current drug price is Up to $1,350 per month.
“Do you think dealing with these people was easy? It wasn’t,” Trump said, referring to pharmaceutical executives. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the agreement took “many months” of negotiations.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk also agreed to provide all other drugs at “most favored nation” prices, Trump said. This means Americans will pay competitively lower prices like consumers in other countries.
The Oval Office event was interrupted when one of the company’s attendees fainted, and journalists were ushered out of the room. “The White House medical department acted quickly and the gentleman is OK,” White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said in a statement.
An Eli Lilly official said that the person in question was a company guest and had a ‘minor medical condition’ but was ‘receiving the best medical care.’
Weight Loss Drug Price Negotiation Details
TrumpRx, expected to launch as early as the end of this year, will allow customers to buy prescription drugs directly from pharmaceutical companies without having to sign up for insurance.
Ozempic and Wegovy shots would cost about $350 per month if purchased through TrumpRx, officials told reporters on a briefing call. The new prices will take effect from January.
If similar approval is granted by the Food and Drug Administration in the future GLP-1 drugs designed to be taken by mouthThe initial dose of the drug will cost $149 per month through TrumpRx, officials said.
For patients eligible for Medicaid and Medicare, the cost will be $245 for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, officials said. The Medicare copayment is $50.
Administration officials hope to begin setting new pricing for Medicare by mid-July 2026. For Medicaid, timing will depend on states’ willingness to participate.
Not everyone can get the lowest price. The lower costs will be available to Medicare patients who:
- Patients with a BMI of 27 or higher who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or have suffered a stroke, myocardial infarction, or peripheral artery disease;
- Patients with a BMI of 30 or more who also suffer from stage 3 kidney disease or other qualifying comorbidities;
- Patients with a BMI greater than 35 indicate severe obesity.
A senior administration official said he believed about 10% of Medicare patients would qualify for lower prices. One official said the new pricing could save about $170 billion over time due to reduced obesity risk in the Medicare population.
Approximately 40% of Americans are found to be obese. CDC datastill According to a recent survey Interest rates are starting to fall. research shows Obesity is one of the leading causes of preventable death in the United States.
Another official said, “This is not about weight loss. It’s about making America healthy again.” “This is about stroke prevention and end-stage renal disease prevention, so we’re limiting access for patients who would benefit clinically.”
Other prescription drug websites, such as GoodRx, will not be affiliated with TrumpRx, an administration official told CBS News. Drug companies will decide how to fulfill consumers’ orders, either through their own logistics or partnering with third-party platforms, one of the people said.
executive announced plans Earlier this fall, it signed agreements with several other major pharmaceutical companies for its TrumpRx initiative. But some analysts say “most favored nation” pricing is being promised. May have a muted effect That’s because, for Medicaid patients, the program already has statutory “best price” protections that guarantee the lowest price available from U.S. commercial payers. It also saves the state money, but Medicaid users typically don’t pay for their drugs out of pocket.
President Trump has previously mentioned the possibility of lower prices for weight loss drugs and expressed disappointment over their high costs.
“I call it fat pills or fat pills,” he said at an event on drug prices last September. “I think sometimes it works for people. The ones I’ve seen don’t really work. I have a lot of friends and they’re fat. They’re like, ‘Yeah, I lost some weight.’ I said, ‘Okay, don’t look with my eyes.’”
Kennedy said the administration is also working to supply healthier foods to schools and the military and increase physical activity in schools. Kennedy said he expects the administration to issue new dietary guidelines soon.
“There’s nothing more important we can do in the meantime than to keep prices down,” Kennedy said.
