The Biden Administration officially announced the next round of prescription drugs that were selected for Medicare price negotiations on Friday, 15 drugs in total that represent an increase from 10 last year, and marks the first official step in a negotiation process that is to take place between Medicare and drugmakers over the next few months, according to NBC News.
Among the 15 drugs are the diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, which have been viewed as controversial and have sparked a public backlash over their high price tags with a growing demand for cheaper alternatives.
The new negotiated prices will not take effect until 2027 and the deliberations are set to be mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which has it’s own questions with the incoming Trump administration.
As of today, there has been no word on how the Trump administration views the government program or if it supports it.
Here are the drugs that have been selected to undergo negotiations:
- Ozempic; Rybelsus; Wegovy, for Type 2 diabetes and weight loss.
- Trelegy Ellipta, an asthma treatment.
- Xtandi, for prostate cancer.
- Pomalyst, a chemotherapy drug.
- Ibrance, a breast cancer drug.
- Ofev, for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
- Linzess, a chronic constipation drug.
- Calquence, a cancer drug.
- Austedo; Austedo XR, for Huntington’s disease.
- Breo Ellipta, a COPD drug.
- Tradjenta, a diabetes drug.
- Xifaxan, for diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.
- Vraylar, an antipsychotic drug.
- Janumet; Janumet XR, diabetes drugs.
- Otezla, a psoriatic arthritis drug.
Novo Nordisk, which are the makers of Ozempic and Wegovy, said that they remain opposed to the pricing negotiations, however will work with the incoming administration to “deliver meaningful solutions for patients.”