Trump Administration Cuts GLP-1 Drug Prices; MAHA Pushes Back

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration announced a significant price reduction for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss via TrumpRX, a move that has drawn criticism from MAHA supporters on social media. Ozempic ($1,000) and Wegovy ($1,350) will drop to $350 per month, while Zepbound and Orforglipron will drop from $1,086 per month to $346. These prices will be available via the new prescription drug platform, TrumpRX, which is set to roll out in January 2026.

The new prices are approximately one-third of the previous cost, although some previous estimates had put the cost at about $1,600 per month for patients prescribed GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. In December, Kennedy spoke out against using these drugs as the solution for weight loss, but focused on the cost-effectiveness of doing so. In an interview with Fox News’ Greg Gutfeld, Kennedy said the US could spend about one-fifth of the estimated $3 trillion it would have cost for GLP-1 drugs to provide “three meals a day to every man, woman, and child in our country.” He added, “We could solve the obesity and diabetes epidemic overnight for a tiny fraction of the cost.”

In the latest announcement, Secretary Kennedy said “This is a tool in the toolkit. It is an arrow in our quiver. It will allow a lot of people who are locked in to high-risk obesity to finally lose weight, to reset, and then to start doing the kind of things that will address the root causes of obesity.”

CDC data shows that nearly three-quarters of American adults are either overweight or obese, which Kennedy said is the number one driver of chronic disease that is responsible for 50% of the health care costs in the country. Kennedy said, “Obesity is a disease of poverty. These drugs have only been available for people who have wealth.” Kennedy said new dietary guidelines will be released in December that will help address the underlying causes of obesity.

During the announcement, President Trump said, “So far, I’ve never heard anything bad about them. I only hear good about them. Is there anything bad about them, Bob, or anything? Someday, maybe it’ll come out, which will notify you immediately. But so far I haven’t heard that.”

The HighWire has reported about several concerning side effects associated with Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs, including blindness, stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, suicidal ideation, and a condition known as life-long diahrrea. 12% of Americans have reportedly taken GLP-1 drugs for weight loss, with another 14% interested in taking them at some point in the future. About half of users report nausea, and one-third report diarrhea, which are the most common symptoms.

Overdose reports associated with GLP-1 drugs have increased substantially as more Americans have started taking the drugs to lose weight. GLP-1 agonists reduce appetite, which is the primary mechanism that leads to weight loss. Sean Barrett, RD, of Legacy Community Health said, “Up to 40% of weight lost can be lean body mass, which includes muscle, bone, water, and skin. Lean mass is metabolically active. It helps burn calories even at rest. More muscle lowers the risk of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease.”

Muscle and bone density loss are concerns on these medications, and patients also experience an increased risk of bone fractures. The appetite suppressant means patients are reducing caloric intake, which requires a higher percentage of protein intake and resistance exercise to counter these effects. Some dietary changes and exercise are necessary for patients who take these drugs to prevent bone density loss and muscle loss.

Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of GLP-1 drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound, saw its stock surge 6% in the five days since the Trump administration announced the partnership that will make the weight-loss drugs more affordable for Americans.

New lawsuits against Novo Nordisk have been filed alleging Ozempic and Wegovy have caused Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION), an irreversible condition of partial or complete blindness in one or both eyes. As of August, there were 1,800 cases filed against Novo Nordisk for a wide range of harms allegedly caused by Ozempic, to which the estimated liability has now surpassed $2 billion.

The latest announcement is part of the Trump administration’s promise to reduce pharmaceutical drug costs to “favored nation” pricing. President Trump said,  “In case after case, our citizens pay massively higher prices than other nations pay for the same exact pill, from the same factory, effectively subsidizing socialism abroad with skyrocketing prices at home. So we would spend tremendous amounts of money in order to provide inexpensive drugs to another country. And when I say the price is different, you can see some examples where the price is beyond anything — four times, five times different.”

Jennifer Galardi, policy expert for the Restoring American Wellness Initiative at the Heritage Foundation, denounced the Trump deal and called it “philosophically incoherent.” She argued that it doesn’t address the root causes of obesity.

While Secretary Kennedy has previously spoken out against using GLP-1 drugs as a solution, he now says this can be a temporary bridge while the administration works on other priorities to encourage lifestyle and behavioral change across the country. This includes bringing back the presidential fitness test and updating dietary guidelines to reduce reliance on processed foods and move towards whole, unprocessed foods.

Secretary Kennedy said the updated guidelines will change the way children eat at school and work to solve the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic in this country.