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U.S. Strikes Price-Cut Deals With Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly for GLP‑1s, With Medicare Pilot in 2026

Unsettled rules, pending FDA decisions, insurer responses and state opt-ins signal a staggered 2026 rollout.

Overview

  • Agreements set new lower prices: direct-to-consumer injectables around $350 per month initially, trending toward roughly $245, with Lilly listing Zepbound at $299 for the lowest dose and up to $449 for higher doses.
  • Medicare Part D will test coverage starting mid‑2026, with drugmakers charging about $245 per month to Medicare and Medicaid and many qualifying Medicare patients facing a roughly $50 monthly copay.
  • TrumpRx, a federal direct-purchase portal, is slated to launch in January to offer discounted cash prices, and proposed starter-dose pills are priced near $149 per month once approved.
  • Some referenced products—oral GLP‑1 pills and new multidose pens—do not yet have FDA clearance, dosing tiers could carry different prices, and Medicaid uptake depends on state participation.
  • Drugmakers flagged near-term financial pressure and market pullbacks followed the news, with Novo Nordisk guiding a low single‑digit sales growth hit in 2026 as both firms bet on longer‑term volume gains.