Trump, agreement for affordable anti-obesity drugs
The President, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk presented an agreement to reduce the prices of the popular GLP-1-based slimming drugs Zepbound and Wegovy for the government's Medicare and Medicaid programmes
US President Donald Trump, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have unveiled an agreement to reduce the prices of the popular GLP-1-based slimming drugs Zepbound and Wegovy for the government's Medicare and Medicaid programmes, as well as for people paying without insurance coverage. The initiative aims to increase access to treatment through Medicare for people aged 65 and older and the Medicaid programme for low-income people, which together provide health coverage to nearly half of all Americans.
Access to the drugs has been a constant problem for patients because of their cost - about $500 a month for the highest doses - and their insurance coverage has been spotty. Coverage of obesity drugs will be extended to patients insured under federal programmes starting next year, according to the administration, which said some reduced prices will gradually be available to patients without coverage. Initial doses of the new pill versions of the treatments will also cost $149 per month, if approved, for all Medicare and Medicaid enrollees and through the White House's new direct-to-consumer site, TrumpRx.
Thursday's announcement is the Trump administration's latest attempt to curb soaring drug prices in a bid to address voter concerns over the cost of living. Companies will get an exemption from tariffs as part of the deal.
