Donald Trump has announced a plan to reduce the cost of certain weight loss drugs and expand access for patients on public health insurance. The initiative, unveiled on Thursday, targets injectable GLP-1 medications from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, including Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound.
Under the plan, oral versions of GLP-1s, expected to be approved soon, will be available at $150 per month for starting doses. Injectable versions will see reduced prices, averaging about $350 per month, decreasing to $245 over two years. Medicare patients will pay a $50 co-pay, while state Medicaid programs can opt into the lower prices.
The drugs will be listed on TrumpRx, a Trump-branded website for direct purchase from manufacturers. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr projected the American public would collectively lose 125 million pounds by next year, calling it a dramatic effect on health.
For the first time, Medicare will cover Wegovy and Zepbound for patients with obesity or comorbidities, not just diabetes or conditions like heart disease. Dr Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said the plan democratises access and could be budget-neutral within two years due to savings from obesity-related issues.
Trump has previously criticised high US drug prices, noting Americans pay almost three times more than overseas. The move follows a 'most-favoured-nation' executive order in May to align US prices with international levels. The Biden administration had also sought broader coverage for weight loss drugs before leaving office.
