Novo Nordisk has slashed prices on its blockbuster GLP-1 drugs Wegovy and Ozempic by up to 40% as competitors enter the weight-loss medication market. The price cuts could dramatically expand access.
New Pricing
- Ozempic: $550/month (down from $935)
- Wegovy: $650/month (down from $1,349)
- With insurance: Many patients now pay $25-$50 copay
Why the Price Cut?
Eli Lilly's competing drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound have captured 35% of the market. Amgen's MariTide (once-monthly injection) enters Phase 3 trials. Compounding pharmacies have been selling semaglutide copies for $200-$300/month.
Impact
At lower prices, more insurance companies are expected to cover these medications. Medicare coverage expansion for obesity drugs is being debated in Congress — passage could add 15 million eligible patients.
The weight-loss drug market is projected to hit $150 billion by 2030. Competition is finally doing what policy couldn't: making these medications affordable for millions who need them.
