What happened.
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a major reduction in the prices of weight-loss medications, including the popular injections and tablets Zepbound and Wegovy. Speaking at the White House alongside representatives from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, Trump described the deal as “a triumph for American patients,” promising that the monthly cost of treatments, currently exceeding $1,000, will drop to around $350. Pills still pending approval could be priced near $150, less than half the cost of injections.
Why it matters.
The measure aims to make these drugs accessible to seniors and low-income individuals covered by Medicare and Medicaid, with subsidies available starting in January through the new official website TrumpRx.gov. In return, the pharmaceutical companies will receive lower import tariffs and faster approval processes. Zepbound and Wegovy belong to the GLP-1 class of medications, which regulate blood sugar levels and promote a sense of fullness — and have become some of the most in-demand treatments in the U.S. market.
What’s next.
The announcement was briefly interrupted when a man collapsed behind the president. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said the man, a guest of one of the pharmaceutical companies, recovered shortly afterward. The administration expects that these price cuts will ease financial burdens for millions of Americans struggling with obesity and mark a turning point in the debate over high prescription drug costs in the United States.
