Trump Announces Deal to Drop Obesity Drug Prices to as Little as $149 a Month

President Donald Trump unveiled a sweeping agreement with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that will dramatically cut the cost of their best‑selling weight‑loss medications for millions of Americans. Announced at a White House event, the deals are designed to make the drugs more affordable for patients covered by Medicare and Medicaid as well as for those who pay out‑of‑pocket.Under the terms of the agreements, Eli Lilly’s upcoming oral obesity pill, orforglipron, will be offered at a starting price of just $149 per month for the lowest dose. The company’s injectable weight‑loss product Zepbound will be priced at $299 for an initial dose, while Novo Nordisk’s flagship GLP‑1 drug Wegovy will see its monthly price fall from more than $1,000 to roughly $350. These figures represent a reduction of 60‑80 % compared with current market rates.The price cuts are tied to several policy incentives. Both firms will receive a three‑year grace period from new tariffs on pharmaceutical imports, and the administration has pledged faster FDA review of pending weight‑loss formulations. In exchange, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have agreed to expand access to their drugs through Medicare and Medicaid and to sell the medications directly to consumers via the new TrumpRx platform, bypassing traditional pharmacy‑benefit managers.A senior administration official said the moves are expected to save both the federal government and patients billions of dollars over the next few years. “This is a historic reduction in prices for Americans,” the official remarked. “We are committed to ensuring that life‑saving treatments are within reach for everyone who needs them.”Medicare beneficiaries will now face a co‑pay of only $50 per month for the approved drugs, while Medicaid programs across the states can opt into the reduced pricing structure, potentially lowering out‑of‑pocket costs for low‑income patients as well. The agreements also include provisions for future obesity‑treatment pills that are awaiting FDA approval, which will be offered at the same $149‑per‑month starting price.Industry analysts have welcomed the deals as a significant step toward curbing the soaring expenses of GLP‑1 therapies, which have become some of the most costly prescription drugs in the United States. Public‑health experts note that more affordable access could help address the nation’s obesity epidemic, a leading driver of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.While the rollout will require coordination among federal agencies, insurers, and state Medicaid programs, the administration is confident that the combined price reductions and expanded coverage will quickly translate into real savings for patients and the healthcare system alike.