Trump Administration Nears Deal for Affordable Obesity Drugs Amid Shutdown

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to announce a deal with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk on Thursday regarding affordable obesity medications. The announcement will take place at 11 a.m. EST, coinciding with a government shutdown that has now entered its 37th day, marking a record for the longest shutdown in U.S. history.

The agreement would allow popular weight loss medicines, including Wegovy and Zepbound, to be sold for around $149 per month through Trump’s direct-to-consumer TrumpRX website. This development comes as a coalition of centrist senators intensifies negotiations to end the shutdown. However, Trump has so far refused to engage with Democrats over their demands to restore health insurance subsidies until the government is reopened.

Officials state that the deal will also likely see Medicare and Medicaid covering these medications. According to sources familiar with the situation, signs are emerging that top pharmaceutical executives will join Trump for the announcement.

The starting dose of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy would retail for $149, compared to Eli Lilly’s Zepbound at $299. This price reflects a $50 reduction from Eli Lilly’s current online price for consumers. Eli Lilly is also in the process of securing FDA approval for a new weight-loss medication, orforglipron, which may be priced similarly if approved.

Documentation from various sources indicates that over three million Medicare recipients could become eligible for the drugs under new guidelines that cover obesity-related treatments for those at risk of heart conditions. Trump’s announcement and the FDA discussions come at a critical time, not only regarding the affordability of weight-loss medications but against the backdrop of the ongoing government shutdown impacting many aspects of public assistance.

As concerns continue to rise among families reliant on federal programs due to the shutdown, the announcement regarding obesity drugs could provide some relief. However, many lawmakers remain skeptical about the administration’s commitment to addressing the dire issues stemming from the continuing shutdown.