WASHINGTON (TNND) — The Trump administration is reportedly expected to announce a deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk on Thursday that would allow some of their obesity drugs, like Wegovy and Zepbound, to be sold to Americans for around $150 for a month’s supply.
The deal would offer the popular weight loss drugs to be sold for as low as $149 via Trump’s direct-to-consumer TrumpRX website, The Washington Post confirmed with sources familiar with the matter.
This image provided by Eli Lilly on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023 shows packaging for their new drug Zepbound. (Eli Lilly via AP)
Medicare and Medicaid would also likely cover the drugs, bringing an influx of business to the companies, the officials told the outlet.
President Donald Trump is scheduled for an 11 a.m. EST announcement from the Oval Office and top pharmaceutical executives are expected to join him.
The agreement would allow the GLP-1s to be covered by Medicaid to treat obesity, while it would require Medicare to cover the drugs for obese Americans who are also at high risk for other health problems, officials told the Post.
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy would be sold through TrumpRX in its lowest dose for $149. For Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, the starting dose would be sold for $299. Officials told the Post that it is $50 less than what Eli Lilly currently charges consumers buying directly from the company online.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 24: In this photo illustration, the injectable weight-loss medication Wegovy is available at New City Halstead Pharmacy on April 24, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. More than 3 million people with Medicare could be eligible for the difficult-to-find and expensive weight-loss drug under new guidance which can cover the medication for patients who are obese or those who have a history of heart disease and are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. (Photo Illustration by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Right now, the drugs have list prices between $1,000 and $1,350 a month with the companies offering discounts to insurers and patients. If a consumer is using the companies’ direct-to-consumer services, the cash prices of the drug are around $499 a month.
Eli Lilly would also sell the starting dose of weight-loss pill orforglipron for $149 if the drug is approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Orforglipron is currently in clinical trials and Eli Lilly is requesting a voucher from the FDA to speed up review of the pill, the officials noted. The company has already applied for the voucher.
What about Ozempic? Officials told the outlet that the Novo Nordisk diabetes drug might also be offered on TrumpRX. The drug is already covered for many patients on Medicare or Medicaid.
Popular diabetes drug is being used for weight loss, causing shortage (Novo Nordisk, file)
Right now, Medicare plans are allowed to cover weight-loss drugs for “nonobesity uses,” like reducing the risk of heart attacks. Only a few states actually cover the drugs for weight loss specifically in their Medicaid programs.
Eli Lilly told the Post that the company is in discussions with the administration. Novo Nordisk also confirmed similar discussions to the outlet.
The deal comes as the Trump administration recently reached agreements with Pfizer and AstraZeneca to offer prescription discounts. AstraZeneca also pledged to list its top drugs on TrumpRx. EMD Serono has also announced a deal with the administration to lower fertility drug costs.
Besides committing to lowering costs, Trump said, Pfizer agreed to spend $70 billion in domestic manufacturing facilities, becoming the latest in a string of major drugmakers to announce plans to build production in the U.S.
Consumers are not expected to start seeing lower prices under the Pfizer deal until 2026, according to senior administration officials.
In October, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a new plan he said would drastically reduce drug prices across America. He said the FDA is taking “bold decisive action” to make it more affordable to develop biosimilar medicines, which are lower-cost “generic” alternatives to biologic drugs that treat serious diseases.