TrumpRx GLP-1 Prices Land at US$350, Above Canadian List Prices

A new U.S. program unveiled by the Trump administration will start selling GLP-1 medications directly to consumers at an average of about US$350 per month, dropping to US$245 over two years — figures that remain above current Canadian list prices for the same drug class [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197].

What the U.S. deal does

The deal, announced with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, expands Medicare coverage of Zepbound and Wegovy for people with severe obesity and for those who are overweight or obese with serious health problems, with qualifying patients facing a US$50 copay [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197]. Lower cash prices will also be phased in through TrumpRx beginning in January, allowing people without coverage to buy directly from manufacturers [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197]. Administration officials said the average TrumpRx price will start around US$350 and decline to US$245 over the next two years [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197].

How that compares to Canadian list prices

Even before currency conversion, the U.S. starting figure sits above Canadian list prices for several semaglutide and tirzepatide products. The Globe and Mail reported that the list price of Ozempic is currently about $228 in Canada, and that the list price of Mounjaro ranged between $300 and $540 as of the beginning of this year, depending on dosage, with neither figure including pharmacy and distributor markups [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/]. CBC reported Canadians currently pay anywhere from $300 to $500 per month for GLP-1 medications, including semaglutide brands such as Ozempic and Wegovy [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197].

Those ranges are broadly consistent with pharmacy figures on GLP1Prices.ca, where Ozempic listings span $215–$663, Mounjaro $283.08–$609 and Wegovy $270–$550 across our verified pharmacy sample.

Endocrinologist: Canadian prices already lower

Dr. Nisha Gupta, an endocrinologist and postdoctoral fellow at McGill University, said that with exchange rates factored in, prices for GLP-1 drugs are already "significantly less" in Canada than in the United States [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197]. Mina Tadrous, an associate professor at the University of Toronto who evaluates pharmaceutical prices, has estimated that loss of market exclusivity in January could bring the price down to under $100 from $400 for the same strength of semaglutide product [Source: cbc.ca/news/health/ozempic-trumprx-cheaper-insurance-9.6970197].

Parallel Canadian track: Mounjaro coverage review

Separately, Canada's Drug Agency has recommended that public health plans cover Mounjaro for Type 2 diabetes provided Eli Lilly offers a discount [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/]. The draft CDA report suggests:

• At low-dose tirzepatide (five milligrams), evidence suggests effectiveness similar to one milligram of Ozempic, so plans should pay no more for Mounjaro than they pay for Ozempic [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/].
• At higher dosages, the report recommends a discount of 25 to 49 per cent off Mounjaro's list price [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/].
• Public coverage could cost an estimated $1.97-billion over three years, about $820-million more than current spending on comparable drugs over a similar period [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/].

Ethan Pigott, director of communications and external affairs at Eli Lilly Canada, said in a statement that the draft "does not fully reflect the totality of evidence for Mounjaro" and that the company would "engage constructively" with CDA as it finalizes its recommendations [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/]. CDA is still examining Eli Lilly's applications for Zepbound for weight management and sleep apnea [Source: theglobeandmail.com/business/economy/article-canada-drug-agency-mounjaro-recommendation-type-2-diabetes/].

Zepbound approval pathway in Canada

Tirzepatide, which has been approved in Canada as Mounjaro for diabetes since 2022, received Health Canada approval for weight management under the Zepbound brand, with dosing escalated gradually starting at 2.5 mg weekly, increasing by 2.5 mg no faster than every four weeks toward treatment doses of 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg weekly [Source: drsue.ca/2025/05/zepbound-mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-weight-management-approved-in-canada/]. Zepbound is approved in a KwikPen in Canada and will not be available in a vial-and-syringe format [Source: drsue.ca/2025/05/zepbound-mounjaro-tirzepatide-for-weight-management-approved-in-canada/].

For consumers tracking these moving parts, GLP1Prices.ca maintains a generic semaglutide tracker, an insurance coverage checker and a regularly updated FAQ.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.