US and UK agree to raise UK drug prices 25% in most-favored-nation push
A US-UK agreement would raise net prices for new drugs in Britain by 25%, part of a push to tie American prices to other countries' — it does not itself set US prices.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative, the Department of Commerce and the Department of Health and Human Services announced an agreement with the United Kingdom on December 1, 2025 that will increase the net price of new prescription drugs in the UK by 25% [1].
The announcement described the step as helping ensure the UK pays "their fair share for innovative medicines" [1]. It is one piece of a broader push to tie American drug prices to the lowest prices paid by other developed countries, a policy the administration calls most-favored-nation, or MFN, pricing [1].
Several basic terms of the UK agreement have not been disclosed. The announcement does not name the medicines covered, does not give a date for when the higher prices take effect, and does not explain how the 25% figure will be enforced [1]. It also does not say whether the deal changes the price of any drug sold in the United States, or whether semaglutide or tirzepatide products are affected [1].
The UK agreement is one item in a longer timeline the administration has laid out. President Trump signed an executive order titled "Delivering Most-Favored-Nation Prescription Drug Pricing to American Patients" on May 12, 2025 [1]. On July 31, 2025, letters went to leading drug manufacturers outlining steps to bring US prices down to the lowest price offered in other developed nations [1]. Since September 30, 2025, the administration says it has announced 16 deals with major manufacturers [1].
A separate announcement on February 5, 2026 launched TrumpRx.gov, a federal website where patients with valid prescriptions can get discounts through printable or phone-based coupons or through manufacturer channels integrated into the site [1]. The launch features drugs from the first five manufacturers to reach MFN deals with the administration — AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Novo Nordisk and Pfizer — covering 40 branded medicines [1].
Among the listed prices, the monthly price of Ozempic falls from $1,028 to an average of $350 and as low as $199, depending on dose, and injectable Wegovy falls from $1,349 to an average of $350 and as low as $199 [1]. The monthly price of the Wegovy pill falls from $1,349 to as low as $149, and Zepbound falls from $1,088 to an average of $346 and as low as $299, depending on dose [1]. All four are described as prices for patients buying directly through the site. The fact sheet does not describe how those prices interact with insurance coverage.
Why it matters for patients
For anyone taking a GLP-1 medication, the UK agreement is indirect. It concerns what UK payers will pay for new medicines. It is not a US price change, and the announcement does not say it lowers any American's out-of-pocket cost [1]. The administration's argument is that other wealthy countries underpay for innovation and that raising their prices eases pressure to charge Americans more. Whether US prices fall as a result has not been reported [1].
The more concrete figures for US patients sit in the separate manufacturer deals, where Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound appear with reduced monthly prices through TrumpRx.gov [1]. Those prices vary by dose and depend on the manufacturer's participation. Whether the same prices will be available to people using commercial insurance, Medicare or Medicaid is not addressed in the fact sheet [1].
What happens next
Additional drugs from other companies that have signed MFN pricing deals are to be made available through TrumpRx.gov "in the coming months," according to the February 2026 fact sheet [1]. On January 15, 2026, the president called on Congress to enact "The Great Healthcare Plan," which the fact sheet says would codify the MFN savings, lower insurance premiums, hold insurers accountable and expand price transparency [1]. No vote or timeline is given [1]. The UK agreement's effective date, covered products and enforcement terms have not been disclosed [1].
Sources
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