The new insulin-stimulating weight-loss drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide appear impressive. Studies suggest they help people shed pounds, reduce the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes, and may even treat kidney problems, HIV-related liver disease, alcoholism, and other maladies. It is easy to see why semaglutide was the top-selling drug in the United States in 2023 ($38.6 billion in sales), with tirzepatide coming in eighth ($13.2 billion).
Affordability is a problem, though. Novo Nordisk markets semaglutide as Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus. Eli Lilly markets tirzepatide as Mounjaro and Zepbound. Each company charges about $1,000 per monthly dose. Because over 100 million Americans could benefit from these drugs, three prominent economists estimate that "at current prices, making [them] available to all obese Americans could eventually cost over $1 trillion per year." Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) worries that Ozempic "has the potential to bankrupt Medicare, the American people, and our entire health care system."
