Novo Nordisk Introduces $499 Wegovy Option for Uninsured Patients

The move follows the FDA's resolution of a semaglutide shortage and aims to compete with compounded alternatives.

Novo Nordisk has launched NovoCare, a pharmacy service offering Wegovy for $499 per month to uninsured patients or those without obesity medication coverage.
The price reduction comes after the FDA declared an end to the semaglutide shortage, which had enabled compounding pharmacies to produce cheaper alternatives.
Novo Nordisk's initiative seeks to regain market share from compounded weight-loss drugs, which are often less expensive but lack FDA approval.
Competitor Eli Lilly has implemented a similar discount program for its GLP-1 drug Zepbound, with prices starting at $349 per month for uninsured patients.
Critics argue that while the reduced price improves accessibility, it remains significantly higher than production costs and prices in other countries.