Trump’s Pressure to Cut Prices: Lilly and Novo Nordisk’s Oral Weight-Loss Drugs May Be Priced Similarly to Injectables

Wall Street analysts and investors expect that two pharmaceutical giants, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, plan to launch oral weight-loss drugs in the U.S. market next year, with prices likely on par with their existing injectables, Zepbound and Wegovy.

This differs from the traditional practice of pricing new drugs higher, highlighting the companies’ strategic adjustments under pressure from the Trump administration to lower prices.

Neither company has yet announced pricing plans for their new oral weight-loss drugs. Regulatory approval and market launch are still months away, and pricing may still change.

Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy is expected to gain approval and launch later this year, while Lilly’s counterpart is anticipated to hit the market by August 2026.

Currently, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound (both administered via weekly injections) are the leading GLP-1 drugs on the market. The list prices for these drugs in the U.S. (their largest market) are around $1,000 or more per month, though cash-paying customers (without insurance) can access them for $499 per month.

According to the companies, developing oral weight-loss drugs aims to meet patient demand and expand market reach, particularly for those averse to injections.

However, the efficacy of oral versions does not surpass that of GLP-1 injectables.

Lilly stated this month that its oral drug, orforglipron, achieved a 12.4% weight loss in a 72-week trial. In comparison, Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy showed 15% weight loss, still below Lilly’s injectable, which demonstrated up to 21% weight reduction.

U.S. doctors, patients, and insurers are calling for lower prices on weight-loss drugs to make them more affordable for the general public. President Trump has also repeatedly pressured pharmaceutical companies to reduce U.S. prices.