Xavier Becerra is reflecting on tenure as HHS secretary. He told Scripps News, "We're leaving this country healthier and stronger."

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.

In a wide-ranging interview, Xavier Becerra, President Biden’s health secretary, defended his tenure and hinted that he might run for governor of California.

Ozempic and Wegovy, the blockbuster but costly GLP-1 drugs often used for weight loss, are among the 15 medications that will be subject to the next round of Medicare price negotiations, the Biden administration announced Friday.

The White House announced the first batch of negotiated Medicare drug prices in August after negotiating for reduced prices for months. The 10 new lower prices — which ranged from a price cut of 79% for Type 2 diabetes drug Januvia to a 38% cut for cancer drug Imbruvica — will go into effect in January 2026.

The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its list of drugs covered under Medicare Part D selected for the second round of the program Jan. 17.

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.

Popular weight loss and diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been added to Medicare’s list of medications that will be negotiated directly between the government and drug manufacturers, the Biden administration said Friday.

CMS has named 15 additional prescription drugs, including diabetes medication Ozempic, for price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. This marks the second round of negotiations aimed at reducing drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries.

Biden's administration announced weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy will be included on Medicare's list of medications subject to direct price negotiations.

The Biden administration released another list of prescriptions drugs that would be subject to price controls. The price controls for the selected drugs will become effective in 2027.