Current costs for people without insurance are closer to $500 per month at the higher doses. The drugmakers also pledged to launch a new generation of weight-loss pills at $149 per month for the lowest dose, increasing to $399 for higher doses, if they are approved for the U.S. market.

“You saw he went down, and he’s fine. We just sent him out and he’s got doctor’s care, but he’s fine,” he said.