President Trump Announces Deal to Lower Prices of Weight Loss Drugs
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump announced an agreement with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to significantly lower the prices of their popular obesity drugs, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, with some available for as low as $150 for a month's supply.
The Announcement and Key Quotes
Trump made the announcement from the Oval Office, accompanied by top administration and pharmaceutical executives. He praised the companies for offering their GLP-1 drugs at what he called "drastic discounts."
"Lilly and Novo Nordisk are joining the phenomenal list of the most exciting announcements," Trump said. "These are two companies behind the groundbreaking weight loss drugs that have helped millions of Americans struggling with obesity."
The event ended abruptly when a Novo Nordisk healthcare executive, Gordon Findlay, passed out, prompting the press to leave the room.
Details of the Drug Pricing Deal
The deal will offer the weight loss drugs at reduced prices through Trump's direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRX, which is expected to be running by the end of the year. Both companies have agreed to offer their drugs at "most-favored nation" pricing through the site.
"Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk are committing to offer Zepbound and Wegovy at Most Favored Nation rates for American patients. This will slash the cost of Wegovy from $1,350 a month to ultimately $250 a month," Trump said. "And reduce the monthly cost of Zepbound from $1,080 to $346."
Specifically, through TrumpRX:
Novo Nordisk's Wegovy would be sold in its lowest dose for $149.
Eli Lilly's Zepbound starting dose would be sold for $299.
Furthermore, a White House fact sheet explained that Medicare beneficiaries will pay a co-pay of just $50 per month. The agreement allows the GLP-1 drugs to be covered by Medicaid for obesity treatment, while Medicare would be required to cover them for obese Americans at high risk for other health problems.
Executive Comments on the Deal's Impact
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted on X, "Promise Made. Promise Kept. President Trump is lowering drug costs for the American people."
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. framed the announcement as a critical step in addressing the nation's health. "I want to start by thanking you, Mr. President, for DECLARING WAR on chronic disease in this country. This is something no American president has ever done. If we want to solve the chronic disease crisis, we have to tackle obesity," Kennedy said. He predicted "dramatic effects on human health in this country" and claimed "the American public will lose 125 million pounds by this time next year."
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz emphasized the role of these drugs in the healthcare system, stating that obesity is responsible for half of all chronic diseases. He said obesity is "not an absence of GLP-1 drugs," but described the drugs as an "arrow in our quiver that we must use and should use."
Additional Company Commitments and Context
The companies also committed to major domestic investments, with Eli Lilly spending $27 billion and Novo Nordisk spending $10 billion to build new U.S. manufacturing plants.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary announced that both companies will receive vouchers to speed up the review process for other medications.
This deal is part of a series of recent agreements between the Trump administration and drugmakers. Trump explained the rationale, stating, "The United States consumes only 13% of all prescription drugs, yet pharmaceutical companies make 75% of their profits from their American customers. To address this chronic unfairness, I signed an EO earlier this year instructing my administration to do everything in our power to implement most-favored-nations drug pricing."
He also mentioned a similar deal with Pfizer, which includes the company spending $70 billion on domestic manufacturing facilities.
