Overview
- The 1.5 mg starter dose is now stocked at more than 70,000 pharmacies, including CVS and Costco, and through telehealth partners such as Ro, LifeMD, Weight Watchers, GoodRx and NovoCare Pharmacy, with higher doses rolling out this week.
- Cash prices are set at $149 per month for 1.5 mg, $149 for 4 mg through April 15 before rising to $199, and $299 for 9 mg and 25 mg, while eligible insured patients may pay as little as $25 under Novo Nordisk’s savings program.
- The FDA cleared the daily pill on December 22 for chronic weight management and to reduce major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
- Patients must take the tablet on an empty stomach with a small amount of water and wait about 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other medicines; trials showed about 14% average weight loss over 64 weeks, rising to roughly 17% among those who stayed on treatment, with gastrointestinal side effects similar to injectables.
- The launch intensifies competition in the GLP‑1 market as Eli Lilly’s oral orforglipron remains under FDA review with a potential decision later in 2026 and has been studied without food or water timing restrictions.