Weight loss drug costs under Trump’s pharma deals
President Donald Trump on Thursday struck landmark deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to lower the prices of their blockbuster weight-loss drugs.
Trump administration officials said that under these agreements, monthly out-of-pocket costs for the popular injections and upcoming pills could range from $50 to $350 starting next year, depending on the patient's dosage and insurance coverage.
The list price for existing GLP-1s, including Eli Lilly's obesity injection Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's competing Wegovy, is more than $1,000 per month, which has prevented many patients from accessing them. Both companies have offered lower-cost options for people paying cash and purchasing the drugs directly from their websites.
But these deals with Trump, as part of his "most favored nation" policy, take these efforts to increase access even further. Based on the details shared so far, here's a breakdown of what patients might pay for weight-loss drugs under the new agreements.
Medicare
Medicare has covered GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and certain other medical conditions: for example, Wegovy to reduce cardiovascular risks. But under the new agreements, Medicare will begin covering the drugs for obesity for the first time starting in mid-2026, making more seniors eligible and potentially encouraging more private insurers to cover them as well.
Some Medicare patients will pay a $50 copayment per month for all approved uses of GLP-1 drugs, including treatment for diabetes and obesity.
However, the Trump administration is placing some restrictions on which Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible to receive GLP-1s for obesity and cardiovascular and metabolic benefits. Patients are eligible if they fall into one of these three groups:
The first group includes individuals who are overweight—those with a body mass index greater than 27—or who have prediabetes or existing cardiovascular disease.
The second group consists of people with obesity—those with a BMI greater than 30—and who have uncontrolled hypertension, kidney disease, or heart failure.
The third group comprises patients with severe obesity, or anyone with a BMI greater than 35.
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have voluntarily agreed to lower government-paid prices for existing GLP-1 medications to $245 per month for all non-starting doses, which are already approved for diabetes and other uses. The savings from these price reductions will allow Medicare to begin paying for GLP-1s at the same price for patients with obesity and high metabolic or cardiovascular risk.
Direct-to-Consumer
This agreement will allow patients to access GLP-1s on direct-to-consumer platforms at a greater discount than on existing drug manufacturers' sites.
On TrumpRx—the government's direct-to-consumer platform for purchasing prescription drugs for cash, which is set to launch next year—the average monthly cost of Wegovy, Zepbound, and other injectable GLP-1s will start at $350 and fall to $250 over the next two years, according to senior administration officials.
The starting dose of Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk's upcoming obesity pills, upon approval, will be $149 per month on TrumpRx, Medicare, and Medicaid. Under the deal announced Thursday, Eli Lilly will receive a fast-track review for its upcoming pill. Eli Lilly said Thursday it will lower prices by $50 on its own direct-to-consumer platform, LillyDirect, which already offers discounts on Zepbound and other medications to patients paying with cash. The Zepbound multidose pen will be available for $299 per month for the lowest dose, with additional doses costing up to $449 per month.
Eli Lilly's pill, once approved, will start at $149 per month for the lowest dose.
Medicaid
State Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 medications for obesity is not uniform across the country.
However, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have agreed to extend their lower government price for their GLP-1 medications – $245 per month for all other non-starting doses – to all 50 Medicaid programs for all covered uses.
States must opt into these prices, meaning some states may not. Check with your state government about coverage.
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Angry
0
Sad
0
Wow
0
