Novo Nordisk is betting big on convenience as it rolls out a pill version of Wegovy, opening the door for millions of Americans who want weight loss treatment without weekly injections or sky-high prices.
Starting this week, patients with a prescription can buy a 1.5 milligram daily Wegovy pill for $149 a month when purchasing directly from Novo Nordisk, even if they do not have insurance coverage. The same starter dose will also be offered through TrumpRx, a new direct-to-consumer platform tied to Donald Trump, following a pricing agreement reached with the administration last fall. TrumpRx is expected to go live later this month.
The company is moving quickly with higher doses. A 4 milligram pill will cost $149 per month through April 15 before increasing to $199. The highest dose, which delivers the most weight loss, is set to arrive by the end of the week at $300 per month.
Oral Wegovy will be widely available, landing in more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide, including CVS and Costco. Patients can also access prescriptions through telehealth services like Ro, LifeMD, Weight Watchers, GoodRx, and Novo Nordisk’s in house pharmacy.
The rollout follows approval from the Food and Drug Administration earlier this month, clearing the pill to treat obesity and lower cardiovascular risk.
“This moment is about changing what’s possible in weight management, and to make that possible, we have worked to ensure [the] Wegovy pill is affordable and accessible to those who need it, however they choose to receive their care,” said Ed Cinca, Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions.
GLP-1 drugs have transformed weight loss care but remain financially out of reach for many, with list prices often topping $1,000 per month. The pill undercuts injectable Wegovy, which costs $349 for self pay users, while insured patients may pay as little as $25 under the company’s savings program.
About one in eight Americans has already tried injectable GLP-1S, according to KFF. With an oral option now on shelves, Novo Nordisk gains a head start as rival Eli Lilly awaits FDA review of its own weight loss pill later this year.
