A daily pill could make GLP-1 drugs more accessible to people. Studies show that about half of people currently using them in the injectable form stop taking them either temporarily or permanently. For some, the high cost is a barrier; for others, it’s the stigma and hassle of injections. Because it’s cheaper to manufacture pills compared to injectable medications, both Lilly and Novo Nordisk have agreed with the White House to roll out the initial doses of their pills at $149 a month for people who are uninsured and for Medicare beneficiaries who have diabetes. Later this summer, more Medicare beneficiaries will become eligible for coverage under a new program, including those with other obesity-related health conditions such as hypertension or kidney or heart disease, and their cost would be $50 a month. Prices increase with increasing doses, and Ricks said those costs would be capped at $299 a month if people participate in the company’s Self-Pay Journey program, and renew their prescriptions within 45 days of the previous one. If people don’t participate in the program, the cost would be $349 a month for the highest dose.
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