Trump signed a deal with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower prices on obesity drugs.

Before the agreement, prices for Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly's Zepbound (tirzepatide) ranged from $500 to $1,000 per month, making them unaffordable for most patients. Unveiling the initiative at the White House, Trump noted that the new terms should align drug prices in the U.S. with global standards and expand access to therapy for millions of people.

The agreement provides for a gradual implementation of the new prices: they will take effect in January 2026 for cash buyers and in mid-2026 for Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare patients will pay no more than $50 per month, which experts estimate will significantly expand access to treatment for older adults with obesity and related conditions. For the Medicaid program, prices will be phased in based on the willingness of individual states to join the new model.

The agreement will allow companies to avoid the consequences of the tariff policy announced by the Trump administration. Previously, the US president announced his intention to impose 100% tariffs on imported branded and patented pharmaceuticals starting October 1, 2025, unless manufacturers begin localizing production in the country. However, the White House subsequently postponed the implementation of the measures to continue negotiations with pharmaceutical companies.

In exchange for tariff relief, Novo Nordisk committed to investing $10 billion in developing manufacturing capacity and research infrastructure in the United States. According to White House officials, this move will strengthen domestic supply chains and create thousands of jobs in the pharmaceutical sector.

Eli Lilly, meanwhile, expects approval for its new oral drug, orforglipron, in the first quarter of 2026. The drug, which previously demonstrated high efficacy and caused Novo Nordisk shares to fall nearly 10%, is expected to become the first GLP-1 class drug available in tablet form. According to Deutsche Bank, the established price cap of $150 per course of treatment will provide access to therapy for 15 million Americans, and the US obesity drug market could exceed $100 billion by the end of the decade.

The American Medical Association hailed the government and pharmaceutical companies' decision as an important step in the fight against obesity and chronic diseases. Sarah Ro, director of the University of North Carolina's Weight Management Program, emphasized that the price reduction will allow many patients who were previously unable to continue treatment due to insurance coverage cessation to regain access. She also noted that the agreement is particularly important for the Medicare program, where the proportion of elderly people with obesity and related conditions is particularly high.

However, experts note that even after the price reduction, the $300–$350 per month treatment will remain unaffordable for some patients. Analysts believe the agreement could increase pressure on other manufacturers, including Pfizer and Amgen, which are developing their own GLP-1 drugs. As noted in the Vademecum review, 2025 has become a period of unprecedented activity in this field, with dozens of companies worldwide accelerating clinical programs and investing billions of dollars in new developments to maintain their position in the rapidly changing obesity treatment sector.

Industry analysts estimate that the agreement will be one of the largest changes to US drug pricing policy in decades. It could also impact global pharmaceutical strategy, as the US remains the largest market for weight management drugs.