How Much Should Weight Loss Drugs Cost?

[keangkong]

New York Times, How Much Should Weight Loss Drugs Cost? A new study found that fair prices for medications like Wegovy and Zepbound would be hundreds less per month than they are now (March 14, 2025), unlocked: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/14/...e_code=1.5k4.33CX.GpDRIoE3xEym&smid=url-share

 

[Skidude]

The amazing thing is they are free. My savings from grocery/restaurant>my "research" cost.

 

[GimmeABreak]

The amazing thing is they are free. My savings from grocery/restaurant>my "research" cost.

I don't know about this. I seem to be spending a lot on protein shakes, electrolyte mixes, supplements and recon/injection supplies (not to mention all of the other peptides I have found and purchased). I would say that I am about break-even if we exclude the copious amount of beer I used to buy.

 

[Skidude]

I don't know about this. I seem to be spending a lot on protein shakes, electrolyte mixes, supplements and recon/injection supplies (not to mention all of the other peptides I have found and purchased). I would say that I am about break-even if we exclude the copious amount of beer I used to buy.

I don't doubt this may be accurate for you. I will say that my life revolved around shopping/cooking/eating, it was my hobby. And though I do buy protein shakes/bars and horde peps, the delta is in the positive for me on cost as a result of my previous obsession with cooking.
I agree it is case by case. But for those who had restaurant delivery and nights out dining, they may have more savings than even me.

 

[TetsuNW]

One could factor in the potential health care costs that would come in the future due to obesity complications.

 

[raw_oyster_eater]

i think morbidly obese should get them for free. should be a law

 

[Garbo]

i think morbidly obese should get them for free. should be a law

raw oyster eater for president 2028

 

[raw_oyster_eater]

too many skeletons in my closets. too many closets.

 

[Mykrodot]

A whole lot less than they are! An article said it costs $5.00 to put a pharmacy-ready box of Ozempic on the shelf. They charge about $1,000? If that still holds true, they are netting a profit of 19,900.00%! What else in the world has a 20,000% markup? It’s disgusting to do this to medicine.

 

[lindsey.allen1127]

A whole lot less than they are! An article said it costs $5.00 to put a pharmacy-ready box of Ozempic on the shelf. They charge about $1,000? If that still holds true, they are netting a profit of 19,900.00%! What else in the world has a 20,000% markup? It’s disgusting to do this to medicine.

This is a profitable area. It’s disgusting but people will pay

 

[Mykrodot]

This is a profitable area. It’s disgusting but people will pay

Some will, but most of America can't afford that every month. Folks are panicking. I wish it were different.

 

[heatherL]

What the article fails to mention is the costs associated with bureaucratic policies, regulations, licensing, and regulatory expenses to bring a drug to market in the US and in other countries. Not defending the manufacturer's or anything ... but if they didn't have to jump through YEARS AND YEARS of regulatory bs, that would cut costs right off the top.
Then add in the mandated test trials. Successful trials cost ... and failed trials cost a whole lot more. Meanwhile, the manufacturer hasn't actually re-couped their costs since they started years before.
Then the costs associated with patents?!!? That's adds an entire level to the cost to bring it to market.
Next, add the "discounts" that big pharma negotiates to countries to "cut them a deal" so they don't just knock-off the patented formula. The US patients end up paying the difference for those pills/pens as well.

 

[indolent]

Does anybody here know what health insurance companies / pharmacy benefits managers actually pay for a month of brand-name semaglutide or tirzepatide, including the insured's co-pay? It could be $5 or it could be nearly list price, for all I know.

As obnoxious as it is with procedures, where you can't possibly be entitled to know the contracted price that's been negotiated between each insurer and each provider until after you've had the procedure and they've overbilled and had the price knocked down ... the behind-the-scenes Rx prices are kept super-duper-double-top-secret.

 

[Mykrodot]

Does anybody here know what health insurance companies / pharmacy benefits managers actually pay for a month of brand-name semaglutide or tirzepatide, including the insured's co-pay? It could be $5 or it could be nearly list price, for all I know.

As obnoxious as it is with procedures, where you can't possibly be entitled to know the contracted price that's been negotiated between each insurer and each provider until after you've had the procedure and they've overbilled and had the price knocked down ... the behind-the-scenes Rx prices are kept super-duper-double-top-secret.

I think the price the pharmacy pays is negotiated by volume. I know when I used a small mom and pop pharmacy I wouldn't fill my GLP-1s there. It always cost them to do it, and I didn't want them to have to eat the loss so I fill those at Publix.

 

[Mykrodot]

What the article fails to mention is the costs associated with bureaucratic policies, regulations, licensing, and regulatory expenses to bring a drug to market in the US and in other countries. Not defending the manufacturer's or anything ... but if they didn't have to jump through YEARS AND YEARS of regulatory bs, that would cut costs right off the top.
Then add in the mandated test trials. Successful trials cost ... and failed trials cost a whole lot more. Meanwhile, the manufacturer hasn't actually re-couped their costs since they started years before.
Then the costs associated with patents?!!? That's adds an entire level to the cost to bring it to market.
Next, add the "discounts" that big pharma negotiates to countries to "cut them a deal" so they don't just knock-off the patented formula. The US patients end up paying the difference for those pills/pens as well.

Back in the day, my insurance (Florida Blue) negotiated a price of $360 a month to Lily for my Mounjaro. I'm not positive what it is today.

 

[Morbius]

I feel like it does cost too much in regulatory burdens to get a new drug to market, but at the same time I really appreciate that it's unlikely a new drug will make all of my skin peel off. I don't know what the solution is.

 

[Melpo]

On one hand, it should cost whatever the richest, most desperate person who lacks the ability to stop eating is willing to pay (or their insurance). They will always get this money a lot of times. Namely in America. The drug hits its peak cost here.

On the other hand, the relative ease of creating these compounds coupled with the insane price gouging from above will create a large 'secondary' market with competition and price reflections more in line with supply/demand. The cost of the drug bottoms out here.

It's a multifaceted thing.

 

[Yankeegurl_LQJ]

Some one has to pay for the Pharmaceutical Executives mansions, yachts, luxury cars, fancy restaurants, mistresses, etc.

 

[nonyabizznez]

I often Google the cost of medications being advertised while watching TV. Hate to say it but $1000/mo for GLPs are at the bottom of the list.

Here are three (frequency of ads, definitely not the top three in cost)

Rinvoq: A medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
15 mg tablets: $7,059.14 per month, 30 mg tablets: $13,956.92 per month, and 45 mg tablets: $20,854.70 per month.

Dupixent: A medication used to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema).
$5,520/mo but a SingleCare discount card can reduce that cost by about $1,900, bringing it down to about $3,310 per month

Skyrizi: A medication used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
$11,381.65 for 1, 600 mg/10 mL vial. That's more than $33,000 for the first three months of Skyrizi treatment

 

[rkl123]

I often Google the cost of medications being advertised while watching TV. Hate to say it but $1000/mo for GLPs are at the bottom of the list.

Here are three (frequency of ads, definitely not the top three in cost)

Rinvoq: A medication used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ulcerative colitis.
15 mg tablets: $7,059.14 per month, 30 mg tablets: $13,956.92 per month, and 45 mg tablets: $20,854.70 per month.

Dupixent: A medication used to treat moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (eczema).
$5,520/mo but a SingleCare discount card can reduce that cost by about $1,900, bringing it down to about $3,310 per month

Skyrizi: A medication used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
$11,381.65 for 1, 600 mg/10 mL vial. That's more than $33,000 for the first three months of Skyrizi treatment

Dupixent has other uses. I have a sibling taking it for a non skin auto immune thing