ISTANBUL

The Trump administration has announced two agreements that will expand Medicare coverage and lower the monthly cost of popular obesity drugs to as little as $149.

The Trump administration has reached new agreements with pharmaceutical companies Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk as part of its ongoing efforts to reduce drug prices, an announcement on Thursday stated.

Under the deals, the companies will align Medicaid drug prices with the lowest rates in peer nations, set fair initial list prices, and provide discounted primary care medicines directly to consumers.

In return, the drugmakers will receive tariff relief on imported pharmaceutical products and significantly faster regulatory approval for select medicines.

Consumer prices under the agreements will vary depending on insurance coverage and purchasing methods, with current list prices for the drugs ranging from $1,000 to $1,350 before discounts.

Under the agreement, consumers purchasing injectable GLP-1 drugs directly from the manufacturers will initially pay around $350 per month, with prices expected to drop to about $250 within two years, while FDA-approved oral versions would start at $149 for the lowest dose, officials said.

The pricing will take effect with the launch of TrumpRx, the administration’s direct-to-consumer platform, in early 2026, though medication costs will be visible to consumers before the end of this year, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.