The maker of Ozempic is slashing prices for U.S. patients who pay cash, a major shift in the fast-growing market for diabetes and weight-loss drugs. Novo Nordisk says it will charge $499 a month for the three-dose size of the diabetes treatment.
Where customers can get this new price
The offer is aimed at patients with Type 2 diabetes who lack insurance coverage for the weekly injection. The new price is available through Novo Nordisk’s official website, its patient assistance program, and a new direct-to-consumer pharmacy.
Drug savings platform GoodRx is also advertising the same $499 per month cash price for both Ozempic and its weight-loss counterpart Wegovy, saying more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide carry the drugs.
Why now?
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According to MarketWatch, the semaglutide industry was valued at more than $28 billion in 2024.
GoodRx CEO Wendy Barnes told CNBC the move comes amid soaring demand and a gap in insurance coverage.
“We’ve seen skyrocketing demand from our consumer base for these highly sought after therapies,” she said. “Yet millions of people still lack adequate insurance coverage. With this collaboration, we’re making a significant step forward in our broader effort to fill the gaps in coverage when insurance falls short.”
Ozempic’s list price, before insurance, is roughly $1,350 a month. Novo Nordisk’s new cash offer will be eligible for Type 2 diabetes patients who don’t have insurance coverage for the once-a-week injection.
The affordability push also follows pressure from President Donald Trump, who urged drugmakers in July to lower costs by selling directly to patients and businesses.
The affordability push also comes after many people turned to cheaper compounds. Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations and global business development at Novo Nordisk, said, “We believe that if even a single patient feels the need to turn to potentially unsafe and unapproved knockoff alternatives, that’s one too many.”
How GLP-1 drugs work
Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of drugs known as GLP-1s, which mimic hormones that regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite. The active ingredient, semaglutide, has skyrocketed in popularity for both diabetes management and weight management and weight loss.
Back in March, Novo Nordisk introduced the same $499 per month cash price for Wegovy, signaling a broader shift toward affordability.
Novo Nordisk continues to battle competitor Eli Lilly and its popular diabetes and weight loss drug Mounjaro for supremacy in the ever-popular GLP-1 market.
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Author: Craig Nigrelli
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