Business
Trump unveils deals to lower US weight-loss drug prices
Danielle KayeBusiness reporter
ReutersUS President Donald Trump has announced deals that aim to lower the cost of popular weight-loss drugs, as pharmaceutical prices take centre stage in his administration’s messaging around affordability.
Speaking alongside drug executives at the White House, Trump unveiled agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Consumers are set to pay between $245 and $350 per month for obesity drugs including Wegovy and Zepbound.
Many GLP-1 drugs, used to treat diabetes and obesity, cost over $1,000 a month without insurance or discounts.
The deals will expand Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk’s access to Medicare and Medicaid, the government’s public healthcare plans for elderly and low-income Americans.
Eli Lilly also said in a statement it would escape tariffs for three years as part of the agreement with the Trump administration.
An estimated 10% of Medicare beneficiaries will be eligible for expanded access to GLP-1 drugs, and will only pay $50, according to senior administration officials.
Those enrolled in Medicaid will see a rolling start date based on when states sign up to participate, the officials said.
Trump has long pushed for “most-favoured nations” prices – a policy aimed at aligning drug prices in the US with lower ones abroad.
The obesity drugs will be sold at discounted prices on the direct-to-consumer TrumpRx, a government-run website set to launch by January.
On TrumpRx, Wegovy and Zepbound will start at $350 per month on average, and drop to $250 within two years, administration officials said. The Medicare prices of Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound will be $245.
Along with Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, Eli Lilly’s weight-loss pill, orforglipron, will be sold for $149 for the lowest dose, Eli Lilly said in a statement. The company’s Zepbound medication will cost $299 for a starting dose.
Those prices are dependent on Food and Drug Administration approval of the pills.
“Lilly is in a unique position to work with the US government to rebalance the global system, expand access and lower costs for Americans,” David Ricks, Eli Lilly’s chief executive, said in a statement.
GLP-1 drugs are often not covered by private insurance. Federal law bans Medicare from covering the drugs when used for weight loss, though they usually are covered when used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Only 13 states provide coverage under Medicaid for weight loss purposes.
Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, speaking at the White House, said the deals were products of months of negotiations with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. He called obesity “the number one driver of chronic disease” in the US.
“This will be a lifesaver to them,” Kennedy said.
“It’s not a panacea, it’s not a silver bullet,” he added, stressing the importance of dietary changes and physical exercise.
Since July, Trump has been pressuring pharmaceutical firms to lower drug prices. He sent letters to 17 drug companies in the summer, giving them 60 days to respond to his demands for lower prices.
Pfizer was the first major drug maker to reach a deal with Trump, slashing prices for some medicines by up to 85% on the TrumpRx site. Pfizer also agreed to lower prescription drug prices for Medicaid.
AstraZeneca and EMD Serono have also reached deals with the administration in recent weeks.
Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) forwarded a summary to the federal government suggesting an increase of Rs4.39 per liter in petrol price for the next fortnight.
After approval from the federal government, one liter of petrol will be sold at Rs257.56 instead of Rs253.17 per liter.
The price of high-speed diesel (HSD) will be increased by Rs5.40 per liter.
After approval, the price of one liter of high-speed diesel will increase by Rs268.38 to Rs273.78.
The proposal to increase the price of kerosene by Rs4 per liter is also on the cards.
The OGRA also recommended increasing the price of one liter of light diesel by Rs6.55.
The new prices of petroleum products will be effective from February 16, 2026.
Due to tension between the USA and Iran, petroleum prices are likely to increase further.
Last Updated:
RBI releases draft to revise Kisan Credit Card Scheme, standardizing crop cycles, extending loan tenure to six years, and aligning credit limits with cultivation costs.
From Crop Cycles To Loan Tenure: 4 Key Changes In RBI’s KCC Proposal
Kisan Credit Card Scheme: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has released draft directions to revise the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) Scheme, aiming to expand coverage, streamline operations, and align credit norms with evolving agricultural needs.
Standardized Crop Cycles And Extended Loan Tenure
As outlined in the draft, crop seasons have been standardized to introduce uniformity in loan sanctioning and repayment schedules. Short-duration crops will now be treated under a 12-month cycle, while long-duration crops will follow an 18-month cycle.
Example:
A farmer growing paddy or wheat (harvested in a few months) will follow a 12-month loan cycle.
A farmer growing sugarcane (which takes 12–18 months) will get an 18-month cycle.
To better align loan tenure with these crop cycles, especially for longer-duration crops, the overall tenure of the KCC facility has been extended to six years. The move is expected to provide farmers with greater flexibility in repayment and reduce rollover pressures.
Example:
If a farmer growing sugarcane faces a bad monsoon in Year 2, he doesn’t have to rush repayment immediately. The 6-year window gives more breathing space and reduces pressure to take fresh loans to repay old ones.
The draft directions apply to Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Regional Rural Banks, and Rural Co-operative Banks, indicating a system-wide implementation once finalized.
Drawing Limits Linked To Cost Of Cultivation
The RBI has proposed aligning drawing limits under the KCC scheme with the scale of finance for each crop season . This adjustment aims to ensure that farmers receive credit in line with the actual cost of cultivation, addressing concerns around under-financing.
Example:
If growing cotton in a district costs Rs 60,000 per acre (as per agriculture department data), banks will align KCC limits accordingly — instead of giving a lower, outdated amount like Rs 40,000.
In addition, the draft expands eligible components under the KCC framework. Expenses related to technological interventions—such as soil testing, real-time weather forecasts, and certification for organic or good agricultural practices—have been included within the existing 20% additional component earmarked for repairs and maintenance of farm assets .
Example:
If a farmer wants to:
- Test soil before sowing
- Subscribe to real-time weather alerts
- Get organic farming certification
These costs can now be covered under KCC instead of paying from pocket.
What Is Kisan Credit Card Scheme?
The Kisan Credit Card scheme aims at providing adequate and timely credit support from the banking system under a single window with flexible and simplified procedures to the farmers for their cultivation and other needs.
The KCC scheme was introduced in 1998 for the issue of Kisan Credit Cards to farmers on the basis of their holdings for uniform adoption by the banks so that farmers may use them to readily purchase agriculture inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc. and draw cash for their production needs.
KCC covers post-harvest expenses, produce marketing loan, consumption requirements of farmer households, working capital for maintenance of farm assets and activities allied to agriculture, investment credit requirement for agriculture and allied activities.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google.
February 14, 2026, 12:49 IST
Read More
Business
Four ports under construction in Andhra Pradesh, Centre tells Lok Sabha – The Times of India
The Centre is pushing port-led infrastructure expansion in Andhra Pradesh, with four ports currently under construction, even as it steps up nationwide port modernisation and efficiency measures.As per information shared on Friday in Parliament, the ports under construction in Andhra Pradesh are Mulapeta Port (formerly Bhavanapadu Port) in Srikakulam district, Machilipatnam Port in Krishna district, Ramayapatnam Port in SPSR Nellore district, and Kakinada SEZ Port in Kakinada district.The government said it is undertaking measures such as mechanisation of berths and terminals, digitalisation and logistics integration, new berth construction, capital dredging for larger vessels, and connectivity upgrades across road, rail and waterways.It has also rolled out initiatives including elimination of manual forms, direct port delivery and entry, container scanners, e-delivery of documents and payments, RFID-based gate automation and Maritime Single Window platform SagarSetu 2.0 to cut vessel turnaround time.Two new ports — Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra and Galathea Bay Port in Andaman and Nicobar Islands — have been notified as major ports. At present, 12 major ports operate under the central government, while 68 other-than-major ports are under state governments.Under the Sagarmala scheme, financial assistance is provided across five pillars including port modernisation, connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development and inland water transport.The government has also launched HaritSagar green port guidelines, the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP), and the Cruise Bharat Mission to promote sustainability and cruise tourism.The information was given by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.At present, 12 major ports operate under the administrative control of the central government, while 68 operational other-than-major ports are under state governments.The government said it has launched multiple national programmes for port development, expansion and upgradation. Under the Sagarmala scheme, financial assistance is provided under five pillars — port modernisation, port connectivity, port-led industrialisation, coastal community development, and coastal shipping and inland water transport.Green and sustainability-linked initiatives have also been introduced. The government has launched HaritSagar green port guidelines to promote environment-friendly port ecosystems and initiated the Green Tug Transition Programme (GTTP) to shift harbour tugs towards greener fuel alternatives.Further, the Cruise Bharat Mission has been launched to prioritise cruise tourism development across the country.
Timothée Chalamet reveals his favourite movie of 2025
Petrol and diesel prices likely to rise – SUCH TV
Babar Azam urges for calm ahead of high-stakes India clash – SUCH TV
How a factory error in China created a viral “crying horse” Lunar New Year trend
New York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause
Aye Finance IPO Day 2: GMP Remains Zero; Apply Or Not? Check Price, GMP, Financials, Recommendations
-
Entertainment1 week agoHow a factory error in China created a viral “crying horse” Lunar New Year trend
-
Tech1 week agoNew York Is the Latest State to Consider a Data Center Pause
-
Business4 days ago
Aye Finance IPO Day 2: GMP Remains Zero; Apply Or Not? Check Price, GMP, Financials, Recommendations
-
Tech1 week agoNordProtect Makes ID Theft Protection a Little Easier—if You Trust That It Works
-
Tech1 week agoPrivate LTE/5G networks reached 6,500 deployments in 2025 | Computer Weekly
-
Fashion4 days agoComment: Tariffs, capacity and timing reshape sourcing decisions
-
Business1 week agoStock market today: Here are the top gainers and losers on NSE, BSE on February 6 – check list – The Times of India
-
Business1 week agoMandelson’s lobbying firm cuts all ties with disgraced peer amid Epstein fallout