Novo Nordisk is shaking up the prescription drug market by slashing the price of Ozempic for uninsured Americans. The company announced that patients who pay out of pocket can now get the diabetes and weight loss medication for $499 a month—nearly half of its original price, which hovered just under $1,000.
The new price is available through NovoCare Pharmacy, a direct-to-consumer service that cuts out insurance companies and ships medications straight to patients.
The decision comes after growing pressure from Trump and other lawmakers who have criticized drugmakers for charging U.S. patients far more than people in other countries for the same medications. Popular GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy have been at the center of the debate, given their widespread use for both diabetes and weight management.
Earlier this year, Novo Nordisk also introduced Wegovy at $499 a month through its pharmacy, while competitor Eli Lilly responded by lowering the price of its own GLP-1 drug, Zepbound, for self-pay patients.
For many Americans struggling with rising healthcare costs, this shift could make a big difference. But critics argue it raises a bigger question: if drug companies can afford to slash prices this much now, why were patients forced to pay double for so long?
