The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced price cuts across 15 drugs through the Medicare health insurance system, effective in 2027. The Trump administration negotiated a 71% discount on Novo Nordisk’s (NVO) weight loss and diabetes drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus for Medicare enrollees. This will effectively reduce the monthly treatment cost for Ozempic and Wegovy from $959 to $274 in the U.S.
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Medicare is a federal health insurance program primarily for people aged 65 and older and certain younger individuals with disabilities or specific conditions. Medicaid provides assistance for low-income and disabled Americans.
Discounts Will Not Hinder Long-Term Growth
Novo Nordisk said these discounts are expected to reduce its global sales growth to the low-single-digits in 2026. These price cuts were anticipated after the White House struck a landmark drug pricing deal with Novo and rival Eli Lilly (LLY) in early November. Both companies agreed to lower prices on their weight-loss drugs so that more patients under Medicare and Medicaid programs can access them.
Following the news, BMO Capital analyst Evan Seigerman noted the discounts were in line in expectations and manageable. He believes that Novo’s obesity drugs will be opened to a larger patient group through the Medicare program, which will likely increase sales enough to outweigh the negative impact of lower prices.
However, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson stated that the company has “serious concerns about the Inflation Reduction Act’s impact on patients and remain opposed to government price setting.”
Other Drugs Affected by Medicare Pricing
Alongside Ozempic and Wegovy, CMS negotiated drug prices even for drugs treating asthma and cancer. The largest cuts include an 85% discount for Merck’s (MRK) Janumet and an 84% cut for Tradjenta, made by Boehringer Ingelheim.
Meanwhile, discounts were also announced for drugs by AbbVie (ABBV), Amgen (AMGN), AstraZeneca (AZN), Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY), GSK (GSK), and Pfizer (PFE). The government said these price reductions will save about $12 billion overall.
Is NVO Stock a Buy, Hold, or Sell?
Analysts remain divided on Novo Nordisk’s long-term outlook amid stiff competition and pricing pressures. On TipRanks, NVO stock has a Moderate Buy consensus rating based on six Buys, two Holds, and one Sell rating. The average Novo Nordisk price target of $58.81 implies nearly 25% upside potential from current levels. Year-to-date, NVO stock has lost 44.2%.
