Trump Administration Announces Deals with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to Lower Obesity Drug Costs
The Trump administration today announced agreements with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to significantly reduce the cost of popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound, making them more accessible to millions of Americans struggling with obesity.
Under the deal, unveiled at a White House event this afternoon, Wegovy will be available through the new TrumpRX website for as low as $149 a month, down from its current list price of $1,350. Zepbound will start at $299. Both companies will also offer all their drugs at “most favored nation” pricing through the website, expected to launch by the end of the year. “These are two companies behind the groundbreaking weight loss drugs that have helped millions of Americans struggling with obesity,” President Trump said. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that obesity is the number one driver of chronic disease in the United States, and this initiative represents a historic step towards addressing the nation’s health crisis.
The agreement extends beyond direct-to-consumer pricing, with Medicare beneficiaries eligible for a $50 monthly co-pay. Medicare and Medicaid will now cover the drugs for obesity treatment, a change that could dramatically increase demand and reshape the pharmaceutical market. Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have also committed to investing a combined $37 billion in new U.S. manufacturing facilities. This move aligns with the administration’s broader effort to reshore pharmaceutical production and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, a key component of the President’s economic agenda. For more information on the impact of prescription drug costs, see Kaiser Family Foundation’s health cost data.
The administration has recently secured similar agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, continuing a push to lower drug prices through executive action and negotiation. “The United States consumes only 13% of all prescription drugs, yet pharmaceutical companies make 75% of their profits from their American customer,” President Trump noted, referencing his May executive order reviving the “Most Favored Nation” policy. Officials indicated that the FDA will expedite review processes for these and other potentially transformative medications, including a new weight-loss pill from Eli Lilly, orforglipron, currently in clinical trials. You can find more details about the FDA’s drug approval process on the FDA website.
Officials stated that consumers should expect to see lower prices under these deals beginning in the coming months, with full implementation anticipated by the end of 2025.
