"Donald Trump was giddy. In the Oval Office today, the president announced that he had secured a deal to dramatically slash the price of obesity drugs. Soon, Wegovy and Zepbound will be sold on a new website-dubbed TrumpRx-for only about $250 a month, a fraction of their current retail price of more than $1,000. "Did I do a good job?" Trump asked the assembled reporters. "Do you think Biden could have done this? I don't think so.""
"In some ways, the announcement heralds a breakthrough in expanding access to some of the nation's most popular drugs. For years, millions of Americans have been priced out of these medications. Many private insurance plans do not cover these drugs, forcing people who want the weekly injections to pay out of pocket. The same situation has been playing out with Medicaid and Medicare. Only about a dozen states currently cover these obesity drugs for low-income Americans insured through Medicaid."
"Still, the announcement is more of a step forward than a leap. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, the makers of Wegovy and Zepbound, respectively, already sell their drug directly to consumers for $499 a month. And most patients using TrumpRx won't actually pay $250 for these drugs, at least initially. The price will be closer to $350 (exact costs will vary by dose), although the companies have promised to drop the price over the next two years, administration officials told reporters earlier today."
A deal will make Wegovy and Zepbound available through a website called TrumpRx for roughly $250 per month, far below current retail prices above $1,000. Initial patient costs are expected to be closer to $350 and will vary by dose, with manufacturers promising additional price reductions over the next two years. Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly already offer direct-to-consumer pricing near $499 per month. Many Americans face barriers because private insurance often excludes these drugs, Medicaid covers them in only about a dozen states, and Medicare is legally barred from covering weight-loss medications.
Read at The Atlantic
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