GLP-1 prices drop?

N

Nat

Active member
I've attached an article that got past the paywall from the Wall Street Journal. It says that (1) the recent price decreases that some politician negotiated probably would have happened anyway because of market forces and (2) the government is too involved in preventing monopolies and trying to force lower prices. The argument is that less regulation would actually bring prices down. I'm not saying I agree, but it's an interesting point of view. I will note I've said something similar here before about what's now happening.
 
I'm sure our friends across the pond will be thrilled about this.

Looking up "weight loss drug prices UK" I found this:

"Mounjaro prices will jump by 170% in the UK, says its maker, as some politician puts pressure on companies to hike prices for Europeans to make them cheaper for Americans. Aug 14 2025
https://www.theguardian.com › business ›"

Luckily for me here in Aus, we have a pretty good system for controlling drug prices. Most scripts are capped at around $40, or $8 for pensioners. Ozempic is subsidized for diabetics only; cost me about $140 aud a month for 1mg/week if I wasn't diabetic. Tirzepatide is $690 a month for 15mg/week! It'd need to be way lower to be subsidized here. Ozempic made me feel sick, anyway.

Too bad for Americans without deep pockets. Drug prices there are among the highest. Helps fund research, I guess. But many die early because they can't afford preventative meds.

One report says generic ozempic will be like $50/month in the US by 2030. And once Chinese-researched drugs get approved in the US, competition should drive prices down further, maybe by 2027/28. Plus, tons of anti-obesity drugs are in development, many GLP-1 types. Hopefully, a dozen or more will eventually compete, pushing prices lower and effectiveness higher.
 
After actually reading the articles beyond the headlines, it's clear that 1) any price drops were already in motion, and 2) this doesn't mean weight-loss drugs will be cheaper for most overweight people. The requirements to get the lower prices still leave most at the mercy of insurance companies and state Medicaid programs.

Basically, it's not a miracle fix.
 
The grey market is eating into GLP-1 profits, which is a problem that will only get worse. They can't stop importation into the US, their most profitable market. So, they need to expand insurance coverage, starting with Medicaid and Medicare.

Newer versions won't necessarily lower prices because they've been price fixing. New drug prices are often based on older drugs. If a new cancer drug replaces an older one, the new one is priced higher, and the old one doesn't get cheaper.

Even generics aren't reducing prices much. Farxiga, for type 2 diabetes, costs $719 per month retail. The generic is $559 per month. A savings of $160...but still unaffordable. Insurance usually covers it, but it still drives up overall healthcare costs.
 
Government involvement always makes it political. The real issue is that society sees obesity as a moral failing, not a medical one. That's why weight loss drugs aren't covered. The high price just gives insurance companies an excuse. Fat shaming is how they get away with it.
 
I feel like drug companies are doing good things. They create life saving medications. Any decrease in new R&D is literally lives lost because we won't have the next wonder drug or whatever.

I think the WSJ editorial board is one of the only level-headed media sources right now, it's so polarized.
 
Good point. I'm saying we should value good things. We should give high status to people/firms that create new things or save lives, not just virtue signaling.
 
I'm in the UK and because of the price hike on Mounjaro, I can't buy any more (though I did stockpile some). Even if the prices came down I've now got enough in freezer (vials) for the next few years. I don't need it!
 
In countries like the UK where healthcare is government funded, why not just buy the patent and sell the drugs at cost?

You'd get a return on investment through lower NHS costs. Buying out the patent wouldn't hurt future drug development. Sounds like a win-win.
 
Then hats off to the resourceful grey vendors for providing an affordable, life-changing resource to tons of us for very little profit compared to the stock-driven big pharma companies. Yes, they need capital, but most of us wouldn't qualify for a prescription even if we could find a willing doctor, and couldn't afford $1000/month for long. Commercial insurance doesn't cover the deals. I didn't meet the criteria. So, I don't see any "heroic" intent. I'm 62, not on Medicaid or Medicare, and heart disease runs in my family. Until recently, I was 45 lbs overweight with an aneurysm. I've lost that weight in 5 months and lowered my risk of heart attack and stroke, and my lipids are good again. No waiting for medicare eligibility. None of this would have been doable paying their prices. So, here's to the gray market!
 
Since we're talking about pharma funding, several things are true at once.

"Big Pharma" has invested billions. One company is building new factories to meet demand. The trials for approval are very expensive.

But publicly traded companies are vulnerable to shareholder pressure. Activist groups often accuse management of negligence if they don't maximize profits.

Public investment in basic science is crucial. Researchers are sometimes mocked for doing weird studies, but open-ended research leads to breakthroughs. Search "Gila Monster Venom GLP-1" for an example. Public investment seems to be under attack...
 
I just trashed a bunch of off-topic political posts. Please stick to the implications of this article for the GLP-1 community, not personal politics. Next step is bans.

I knew this topic could get political, but I thought people could stay on topic without getting into personal politics.
 
Should I have avoided posting the article? Maybe it was because it criticizes a certain politician? Criticizing anyone who might run for office seems to cause problems. I probably should have thought about how it was likely to get people riled up.
 
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