Good news for a change

In addition to mRNA vaccines and CAR-T cell therapy, semaglutides and tirzepatides offer transformative therapies, in this case for obesity and associated type-2 diabetes. But the drugs aren’t cheap, so access is a problem in the US.

“Medicare will cover semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Zepbound) for their weight management indications for people with obesity, President Trump announced on Thursday.

“As part of a new deal with the White House, doses of Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly’s blockbuster drugs will be priced at $350 through TrumpRx for a month’s supply — the GLP-1 receptor agonists currently carry list prices of over $1,000 per month. Starting doses of new, pill versions of the treatments also will cost $149 a month if they are approved.”

Good to see that our obese president understands the benefits of these transformative therapies, even if he chooses to forgo them for himself.

Medicare coverage of weight-loss drugs