US President Donald Trump has announced big deals to cut the cost of popular weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound.
These GLP-1 medicines help treat diabetes and obesity but often cost over $1,000 a month without insurance. Now, prices will drop a lot for many Americans.
Speaking in the White House Oval Office on November 6, Trump unveiled agreements with drug companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
The deals expand access through Medicare for seniors and Medicaid for low income people.
According to the data provided by the White House about 10% of Medicare users, those with obesity or related health issues like heart disease, will now get coverage.
They will pay just $50 out of pocket, with the government price at $245 per month starting mid 2026.
States can join Medicaid coverage on a rolling basis. Trump called these the “fat drugs” and said his plan makes them affordable, unlike under the previous administration.
“You think Biden could have done this? I don’t think so,” he mocked former American president while talking to the press.
The deals also launch TrumpRx.gov, a new government website going to live in January 2026.
It lets people buy drugs directly from makers at discounted prices.
Injectables like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound will average $350 monthly at first, dropping to $245 in two years.
If FDA approves new oral pills like Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, the starting dose will cost $149 for all Americans.
Furthermore, low costs could push governments outside of US to follow the foot steps of Trump administration while acknowledging obesity a real threat in current decade especially for youth.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said talks with the manufacturing companies took months.
He called obesity the top cause of chronic diseases and predicted Americans will lose 125 million pounds next year.
“This will be a lifesaver,” he added, but stressed it’s not a fix-all, eat better and exercise too.
Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks praised the move to balance global prices and avoid tariffs for three years.
Novo Nordisk welcomed the deal, saying it greatly improves access to these medicines for more Americans.
Other major drug companies, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and EMD Serono, have already signed similar agreements with the Trump administration.
This is part of Trump’s “most favored nation” policy, which forces drug prices in the US to match the much lower prices charged in other countries.
Previously, Medicare completely banned coverage for these drugs when used only for weight loss (though it covered them for diabetes or heart issues).
Under Medicaid, just 13 states offered coverage for obesity treatment. Many private insurance plans refused to pay for them at all. These new deals change everything by expanding coverage and lowering purchasing costs.
