As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, price negotiations with manufacturers will begin this year, with reduced prices expected to take effect in 2027.

Ozempic and Wegovy, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drugs that treat diabetes and obesity, are on the list. Astellas Pharma’s prostate cancer drug, Xtandi, is also on the list — alongside AstraZeneca’s cancer treatment Calquence, GSK’s chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) drug Breo Ellipta, and AbbVie’s antipsychotic medication Vraylar.

As of Monday, FDA commissioner Robert Califf, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, Medicare director Meena Seshamani, and FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research director Patrizia Cavazzoni have retired or intend to retire prior to Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20.

Abe Sutton, a health policy aide in the first Trump administration, is likely to be named head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation at CMS.

The Health and Human Services Department won’t issue health advisories, reports or other materials until further notice, with limited exceptions.

Medicare will soon negotiate prices for 15 more drugs as part of an effort to reduce costs for older adults and people with disabilities.

And remember, Medicare provides access to about 8,000 drugs ... but what I will tell you is there is a core of personnel at HHS, regardless of administration, that has done dramatically important ...

Drugs used to treat cancer, diabetes and other chronic conditions are among 15 picked for negotiations that could result in lower prices for patients, the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Friday.

The talks around drugs including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, GSK’s Trelegy Ellipta, and Pfizer’s Xtandi will set Medicare prices that go into effect in 2027.

Meena Seshamani’s Medicare swan song ended on a note of bravura: the announcement that 15 costly drugs, including Novo Nordisk blockbusters Wegovy and Ozempic, are slated for price talks.

The exact scope and duration is clear, and one question is what will happen to release of CDC data that employers and insurers use in pricing.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said Friday that it had selected another 15 drugs for its second round of price negotiations, including the popular weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy.