Opinion: Cost of drugs, price of life

Let there be no mistake about it: The reduction in the price of certain weight control and reduction drugs that was negotiated by Mr. Trump is another gift to the well-to-do. Specifically, the drugs in question are Zepbound, a product of Eli Lilly, and Ozempic and Wegovy, offered by Novo Nordisk. 

The price of these drugs will be lowered for eligible patients on Medicare and Medicaid, as well as for those who choose to use the TrumpRx website. According to Jennifer Jacobs, reporting for CBS News, “The price per month for most eligible people will be $245 to $350 a month on average, administration officials said. The cost for the drug now is as high as $1,350 per month.”

Let’s remember that the drugs were developed to treat Type II Diabetes. Weight reduction was a side effect that became extremely popular, especially among those with large discretionary incomes. So, many people see them as life-style drugs more than as life-saving medications.