Hua Er Jie Jian Wen·2025-11-04 21:26Core Viewpoint - The U.S. government is nearing a landmark agreement with pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk regarding the pricing of weight loss drugs, which would allow federal Medicare and Medicaid programs to cover these medications in exchange for significant price reductions [1][4]. Group 1: Agreement Details - The agreement aims to change the current prohibition on Medicare covering weight loss drugs solely for obesity treatment, allowing reimbursement for patients with obesity and other high health risks [4]. - Specific discounted prices for different dosages of weight loss drugs have been set, with current monthly prices ranging from $1,000 to $1,350 [4]. - Under the TrumpRx plan, Novo Nordisk's Wegovy will be priced at $149 for the lowest dosage, while Eli Lilly's Zepbound will start at $299, which is $50 lower than its current direct sales price [5]. Group 2: Additional Drug Inclusion - Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic may also be included in the TrumpRx plan, although specific pricing has not been disclosed [6]. - Eli Lilly is seeking a "priority review voucher" from the FDA to expedite the approval process for its weight loss pill orforglipron, potentially reducing the review time from 6-10 months to 1-2 months [6]. Group 3: Responses and Background - Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk have expressed their commitment to discussions with the U.S. government to enhance patient accessibility and affordability of their drugs [7]. - The negotiations are part of the "Most Favored Nation" pricing policy initiated by the Trump administration to lower drug costs, with previous agreements reached by Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and EMD Serono [7]. - Concerns were raised by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the potential $3 trillion cost of widespread coverage for GLP-1 drugs, but evidence presented by CMS Director Mehmet Oz demonstrated the cost-saving benefits of these medications [7].