Trump announces GLP-1 price deals and calls them "the fat drug"
Trump announced lower GLP-1 prices for some Medicare and Medicaid patients and cash buyers, with monthly costs of roughly $245 to $350 starting in 2026 — but eligibility is limited.
President Trump announced on Nov. 6 that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have agreed to sell their best-known GLP-1 medicines at lower prices for eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients and for people buying directly through a planned government-branded website called TrumpRx [1]. Standing in the Oval Office with the two companies' chief executives, he described the agreement in his own terms: "Today, I'm thrilled to announce that the two world's largest pharmaceutical manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, have agreed to offer their most popular GLP-1 weight loss drug — I call it the fat drug, remember — at drastic discounts" [1][3].
What the deal says
Administration officials said most eligible people would pay $245 to $350 a month on average, compared with list prices that have run as high as $1,350 a month [1]. Through TrumpRx, injectable Ozempic and Wegovy (both semaglutide) would cost about $350 a month, with that pricing taking effect in January [1]. The Guardian reported the average injectable price would start near $350 and "trend down" to $245 a month over the next two years [2].
For eligible Medicare and Medicaid patients, officials said the price would be $245 for Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, with a $50 Medicare copay [1]. Medicare pricing is expected to begin in mid-2026, likely by July; Medicaid timing depends on whether individual states opt in [1][2]. If the FDA approves oral GLP-1 pills now in development, officials said starting doses would be $149 a month through TrumpRx [1]; the Guardian cited $150 for starting doses [2].
The numbers Trump used from the podium did not always match the officials' figures. He said the deal would cut Wegovy from $1,350 a month to "ultimately $250 a month" and Zepbound from $1,080 to $346 [3]. He also said Lilly is investing $27 billion and Novo Nordisk $10 billion in U.S. manufacturing [3].
Not everyone on Medicare qualifies. According to senior officials, the lower prices apply to patients with a BMI over 27 who are prediabetic or have had a stroke, heart attack or peripheral artery disease; patients with a BMI over 30 who also have stage-three kidney disease or other qualifying conditions; and patients with a BMI over 35 [1]. Officials estimated about 10% of Medicare patients would be eligible and projected roughly $170 billion in savings over time from reduced obesity-related risk [1]. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz said covering more people would be budget-neutral within two years [2]. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the talks took "months and months" and predicted Americans would collectively lose 125 million pounds within a year [1][2].
Why it matters for patients
The headline change is that Medicare would, for the first time, cover Wegovy and Zepbound for obesity or related conditions rather than only for diabetes and a narrow set of diagnoses [2]. That could open coverage for people who have been paying cash or going without.
But the announced prices are not universal. They apply to specific Medicare and Medicaid groups and to cash purchases through TrumpRx, which officials said is expected to launch as late as the end of this year [1]. People with commercial insurance were not described as covered by these prices. For comparison, Novo Nordisk already sells Wegovy directly for $499 a month, and Zepbound runs $349 for the lowest monthly dose up to $499 at higher doses [2].
There are also unanswered questions. Officials said drugmakers — not TrumpRx — will decide how orders are filled, either in-house or through third-party partners, and that sites like GoodRx are not partnering with TrumpRx [1]. Some analysts told CBS News that "most-favored-nation" pricing could have a muted effect on Medicaid because the program already has a statutory "best price" protection, and Medicaid enrollees usually do not pay out of pocket anyway [1]. How eligibility will be verified, and which states opt in, is not yet known.
What happens next
TrumpRx pricing is slated to begin in January [1]. Medicare pricing is targeted for mid-2026, likely by July [1]. Oral GLP-1 pricing depends on FDA approval, which has not happened yet [1]. Kennedy said new federal dietary guidelines are expected soon [1].
The Oval Office event ended early after a company guest fainted; the White House said the man was fine [1].
Images from the sources
Sources
Semaglutides.org is for information only and is not medical advice. Always talk to a licensed healthcare provider about your own care. Some links to telehealth services are affiliate links, labeled where they appear.