President Donald Trump

By Cecilia Levine From Daily Voice

GLP-1s are about to get more affordable in the United States, thanks to a new deal announced Thursday, Nov. 6 by the Trump Administration.

The deal with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Company and Novo Nordisk is expected to dramatically reduce costs of Ozempic and Wegovy — which the president has affectionately dubbed "The Fat Drug," the White House said.

Prices will dip from $1,000 and $1,350 per month to $350 per month when purchased through the president's TrumpRx program, according to the White House.

The price of Zepbound and Orforglipron, if approved, will drop from $1,086 per month to about $346, officials said. If the FDA approves the Wegovy pill or similar oral GLP-1 drugs, the starting dose will cost $150 per month through the program.

GLP-1 is a naturally occurring molecule released toward the end of your meal, when your stomach stretches, according to Dr. David Shaker, who specializes in internal medicine at Holy Name Medical Center. It's a commonly used drug to treat diabetes, and an effective one, many doctors would agree. Wegovy is essentially the same drug approved for weight loss.

Ozempic, however, has gained popularity for its weight loss effects. It works by slowing gastric emptying and helping patients feel fuller longer, lowering glucose levels and improving blood sugar, Shaker explained.

The White House said the price reductions “will enable Medicare and Medicaid to cover obesity drugs for adults at a dramatically lower cost to taxpayers than that proposed by the Biden Administration.”

According to the announcement, Medicare will now pay $245 for the drugs — less than half the prices previously proposed — and Medicare patients will pay a $50 monthly co-pay. State Medicaid programs will also have access to the same pricing.

The Administration said the deal also includes discounts on other medicines: Eli Lilly’s Emgality will drop to $299 per pen, a $443 discount, and Trulicity will cost $389 per month, down $598. Novo Nordisk will sell insulin products, including NovoLog and Tresiba, for $35 per month.

Eli Lilly has pledged $27 billion in new U.S. manufacturing investments, while Novo Nordisk has committed $10 billion, including plans to produce the Wegovy tablet entirely in the U.S., officials said.

The White House said the move is part of the Administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative to fight obesity and chronic disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 40 percent of American adults are obese, which increases risks for diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.

The Administration said the announcement “represents a historic opportunity to reverse the obesity epidemic” when paired with healthy lifestyle changes.