· 3 min read
illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Wall Street Journal or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: The Trump administration is negotiating a deal with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk to make popular weight-loss drugs available at a significantly reduced price
• Under the proposed agreement, the lowest doses of obesity drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound would be sold through a new platform, TrumpRx, for $149 per month, with Medicare and Medicaid coverage for these medications also on the table
• The deal is part of broader efforts to reduce U.S. drug costs
🔭 The context: TrumpRx is a new initiative launched by the administration to negotiate lower drug prices directly with pharmaceutical companies
• This negotiation follows the administration’s previous attempts to lower drug costs under a "most favored nation" pricing policy
• The drugs involved in the deal, including GLP-1s, are currently priced between $1,000 and $1,350 per month, but this new deal aims to make them more affordable to patients, particularly those covered by Medicare and Medicaid
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This move to reduce the cost of weight-loss drugs could have significant implications for public health and sustainability in healthcare
• Obesity and related chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease, are growing global health challenges that drive up healthcare costs
• Increased access to affordable weight-loss treatments could help prevent these conditions, leading to long-term reductions in healthcare expenditure and improving overall public health outcomes, which has far-reaching implications for economic sustainability
⏭️ What's next: The deal is still under negotiation, but if finalized, it is expected to be announced by President Trump with pharmaceutical executives at the White House
• Eli Lilly is also pushing for a fast-tracked review for its new weight-loss pill, orforglipron, which could add to the lineup of drugs available through TrumpRx
• Should the agreement succeed, it could signal a broader shift in how the U.S. handles pricing and coverage for pharmaceuticals, with potential ripple effects on the global drug market
💬 One quote: “President Trump is committed to making these products more affordable and accessible to Americans, while ensuring that innovation is preserved and the cost of healthcare is reduced.” — Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Representative
📈 One stat: Current prices for weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound range from $1,000 to $1,350 per month, but the TrumpRx platform could offer them for as low as $149 for the lowest dose.
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