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WE THE TAXPAYERS funded $6.2 billion in weight-loss drug research, while Big Pharma reaped massive profits and drove up healthcare costs
By ljdevon // 2025-03-14
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• U.S. taxpayers funded $6.2 billion in research and development for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. • Big Pharma charges Americans up to 11 times more for these drugs compared to other countries, driving up healthcare costs and insurance premiums. • GLP-1 drugs are linked to serious side effects, including thyroid cancer, stomach paralysis, and suicidal ideation, yet are marketed as "miracle cures." • The high cost of these drugs is straining Medicare, Medicaid, and even contributing to utility rate hikes.

Taxpayers fund the research, Big Pharma cashes in

U.S. taxpayers have unwittingly bankrolled the development of a new class of weight-loss drugs that are now being sold back to them at exorbitant prices. According to an investigation by The Lever, American taxpayers footed a staggering $6.2 billion bill for the research, development, and distribution of GLP-1 drugs, including blockbuster medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound. These drugs, which belong to the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) class, are now generating billions in profits for pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, while Americans pay up to 11 times more than consumers in other countries. This blatant exploitation of taxpayer dollars is not only inflating healthcare costs but also exposing millions to dangerous side effects. Meanwhile, the media continues to hype these drugs as "miracle cures," glossing over the risks and the financial burden they place on everyday Americans. The $6.2 billion in taxpayer funding for GLP-1 research was uncovered by researchers at Bentley University, who shared the data with The Lever. Between 1980 and 2024, the federal government invested heavily in the discovery and development of GLP-1 molecules, as well as research into their applications for treating diabetes, obesity, and other conditions. “You have to know a lot to develop a drug and to apply it in people,” said Dr. Fred Ledley, a professor at Bentley University, who provided the spending data. “What we call a ‘mature body of knowledge’ is not cheap.” This taxpayer-funded research laid the groundwork for drugs like Ozempic, which have since spawned a massive market. In 2024 alone, GLP-1 drugs generated over $50 billion in sales for Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, with more than 15 million Americans—1 in 8 adults—now taking these medications. Shouldn’t taxpayers receive a return on their investment or at least receive a dividend or compensation for bankrolling these massive pharmaceutical experiments?

Dangerous side effects hidden behind the hype

While the media touts GLP-1 drugs as miracle cures for everything from alcoholism to aging, the serious side effects are often downplayed. These include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, pancreatitis, stomach paralysis, kidney disease, thyroid cancer, and even sudden vision loss. The drugs are so dangerous for pregnant women that some doctors argue they should carry a black box warning. Worse yet, GLP-1 drugs have been linked to suicidal ideation and even death. Despite these risks, the pharmaceutical industry continues to aggressively market these drugs, flooding the airwaves and internet with ads that promise quick fixes to complex health problems.

A broken system that profits off suffering

The high cost of GLP-1 drugs is not just a burden on individual consumers — it’s driving up healthcare costs for everyone. In 2022 alone, Medicare spent 5.7 billion on GLP−1 drugs, a tenfold increase from 2018. If half of all Medicare and Medicaid patients with obesity were to take these drugs, it could cost the federal healthcare system 166 billion annually — nearly as much as what Medicare and Medicaid spent on all retail prescription drugs in 2022. The ripple effects of these costs are felt across the economy. Con Edison, New York City’s largest electricity provider, recently announced a likely rate hike, citing a 12% increase in employee benefit costs due to the rising use of GLP-1 drugs. The story of GLP-1 drugs is a microcosm of everything wrong with the U.S. healthcare system. Taxpayers fund the research, Big Pharma reaps the profits, and consumers are left to foot the bill—both financially and with their health. The question remains: How long will Americans tolerate a healthcare system that exploits them at every turn? As the costs of these drugs continue to rise, and their dangers become more apparent, it’s clear that the real “miracle cure” needed is a complete overhaul of the pharmaceutical industry and the policies that enable its exploitation. Sources include: ChildrensHealthDefense.org LeverNews.com Bloomberg.com
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