Does the Federal Government have the power to lower the price of popular but expensive weight loss medicines?

I'm David Brancaccio. The Federal Trade Commission is challenging patents on 20 brand name drugs including

Ozempick.

That's the diabetes medication that's become a blockbuster success helping people lose weight.

The attempt here is to speed the process toward cheaper generics.

Here's Marketplace's Nova Safo.

Critics have accused drug manufacturers of filing dozens, if not hundreds of patents for

individual treatments in order to ward off cheaper generic versions.

In its latest battle with the industry, the FTC sent warnings to 10 drug makers, including

AstraZeneca, Glaxo- Klein, and Novonordisk, challenging patents on drugs

treating weight loss, diabetes, asthma, and other conditions. These drugs are enormously profitable.

For example, Novo Nordisk saw sales skyrocket last year to $34 billion,

mostly thanks to two drugs, Osmpick and Wagovi, both affect weight loss.

The original Osmic patent could expire by

2032 if the FTC succeeds in its challenge. That would allow generic versions.

Novonordisk did not comment.

This is the second time the Biden administration's FTC has challenged drug patents, the first

in September, which led to three companies withdrawing listings.

Others did not, and the FTC has not said whether it will take further legal action.

I'm Nova Software for Marketplace.

In about seven hours we'll hear from the U.S. Central Banker-in-Chief following today's big meeting.

Interest rates are not coming down today, but there could be arms-folded hints the Fed will

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