Wegovy and Ozempic top list of 15 drugs for next price negotiations

Blockbuster weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic top the list of 15 drugs selected for the second round of federal price negotiations, expected to begin this year, with the resulting negotiated prices taking effect in 2027.

The first round of negotiations, which involved 10 expensive drugs, was completed in August, resulting in prices being 38 to 79 percent lower than list prices. These negotiated prices will go into effect in 2026 and are expected to save people with Medicare drug coverage $1.5 billion in out-of-pocket costs.

“Last year we proved that negotiating for lower drug prices works,” Xavier Becerra, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said in a statement. “Now we plan to build on that record by negotiating lower drug prices. 15 additional important medications for seniors.”

The list of 15 drugs in the next round is below, in order from HHS. According to the Department of Health, approximately 5.3 million people with Medicare prescription drug coverage used at least one of these drugs between 2023 and 2024. During that period, they were collectively responsible for approximately $41 billion in total gross covered prescription drug costs, or approximately $14 billion. percent.

At the top of the list are three versions of semaglutide drugs sold by Novo Nordisk: Wegovy, used for weight loss and to reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease; Ozempic, used for type 2 diabetes; and Rybelsus, used for type 2 diabetes. The drugs are as expensive as they are popular. Wegovy has a list price of about $1,350, while Ozempic's costs almost $1,000.