President Donald Trump announced this Thursday that his Government reached an agreement with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to reduce the prices of their popular anti-obesity treatments Zepbound and Wegovy, a measure that would expand access to millions more people in the country.
The drugs are part of a new generation of drugs used to treat obesity, known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, whose popularity has skyrocketed in recent years.
However, access to these medications has been an ongoing problem for patients due to their cost — about $500 a month for the highest doses — and insurance coverage has been spotty.
Coverage of obesity drugs will be expanded to Medicare patients starting next year, according to the Republican Administration, which said some lower prices will also be phased in for patients without coverage.
Initial doses of the new pill versions of the treatments will also cost $149 a month, if approved.
Thursday’s announcement is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to curb rising drug prices as voters continue to demand lower costs of living. Drugmakers Pfizer and AstraZeneca recently agreed to reduce prescription drug prices for Medicaid after an executive order in May set a deadline for drug companies to reduce them.
As with the other deals, it’s unclear to what extent consumers will notice the reduced prices. Drug costs can vary based on competition for treatments and insurance coverage.
