WASHINGTON, D.C.: A Trump administration deal to slash prices on blockbuster weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound is expected to make them accessible to millions more Americans, though doctors warn that even with discounts, long-term use may remain out of reach for many.

Under the agreement announced this week, Novo Nordisk will lower the monthly price of Wegovy to US$350, while Eli Lilly will price Zepbound at about $300 for starter doses and $450 for higher ones. Current cash prices are closer to $500 per month for the top doses.

The two companies also pledged to introduce new weight-loss pills priced between $149 and $399 per month, pending U.S. regulatory approval.

The deal marks the first significant federal effort to make GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, currently available to only a small fraction of patients, more affordable. Americans enrolled in Medicare will benefit the most: eligibility will expand, and out-of-pocket costs will be capped at $50 per month.

The lower prices are part of a government pilot program that could become permanent if data show that weight loss from these drugs leads to fewer expensive health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease.

"When monthly costs fall below $200, access to evidence-based treatment expands dramatically," said Dr. Leslie Golden, an obesity medicine physician in Wisconsin. "The new prices should lead to a noticeable increase in patients receiving life-changing treatment."

Despite the cuts, specialists say affordability remains a barrier. "Some people still can't pay $350 per month — and these are drugs that need to be taken forever," said Dr. Caroline Apovian, a Harvard Medical School professor and obesity expert. Studies show that patients often regain weight after stopping treatment.

A Rand Corporation survey found that about 12 percent of Americans have tried a GLP-1 drug, far below the 42 percent of adults living with obesity. Many stop because of side effects or cost.

Under the new deal, commercial insurers will be able to access prices 25 percent lower than current rates, and expanded Medicare coverage could encourage more employers to add weight-loss drugs to their health plans.

The changes will roll out as early as January for cash payers, by mid-2026 for Medicare, and gradually for Medicaid, depending on when states join the program.

For doctors like Dr. Sarah Ro, who leads the weight-management program at the University of North Carolina Health, the shift is long overdue. "Coverage for weight-loss drugs had been trending in the wrong direction," she said, noting that many of her patients lost access through employer or state insurance plans. "That's why this is such wonderful news."

Lower prices could also draw people away from telehealth compounding alternatives, such as those sold by Hims & Hers, experts say. "I do think there will be a migration over to the branded and clinically tested versions," said Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford of Massachusetts General Hospital.