Trump strikes deal to lower cost of Wegovy, Zepbound weight loss drugs

Trump said his administration reached an agreement with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower the cost of GLP-1 weight loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound.

President Donald Trump said Thursday his administration has reached a deal to lower the cost of the blockbuster GLP-1 weight loss drugs, Wegovy and Zepbound — a move that could significantly expand access to the wildly popular drugs, though some details remained unclear.

Under the deal, the monthly out-of-pocket cost of the drugs could range from $50 to around $350, depending on the dosage and insurance coverage.

Currently, Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Novo Nordisk's Wegovy carry list prices above $1,000 a month, although both companies have introduced lower cost options for patients paying in cash and purchasing the drugs directly through their websites. To further expand access, Costco recently announced it would sell Wegovy and Ozempic for $499 for people who paid cash, while Walmart launched a similar arrangement with Lilly’s Zepbound.

People whose insurance covers the drugs usually pay much less than the list price. However, many insurers do not cover them.

The agreements could make the popular treatments more affordable for millions who have struggled to access them — although experts say it remains unclear who would immediately benefit, since some of the drugs are already covered for Medicare patients with certain medical conditions and the new costs remain high for many patients.