Novo Nordisk has launched the first pill version of its blockbuster GLP-1 weight-loss drug Wegovy in the United States, marking a significant shift in the obesity treatment market and intensifying price competition with injectable therapies.
The Danish pharmaceutical company said its once-daily Wegovy pill, approved by U.S. regulators shortly before Christmas, is now available nationwide. It is currently the first and only oral GLP-1 drug on the market designed to reduce appetite by mimicking the GLP-1 hormone.
The pill has been introduced at a substantially lower price than injectable weight-loss drugs. Self-pay patients can access the starting 1.5 mg dose for $5 per day, or $149 per month. The 4 mg dose is also priced at $149 per month until April 15, after which it will cost $199 per month. Higher doses will be priced at $299 per month. Patients with insurance coverage may pay as little as $25 per month.
By comparison, list prices for injectable GLP-1 weight-loss drugs in the U.S. typically exceed $1,000 per month, although manufacturers have recently reduced cash-pay prices amid growing competition. Novo Nordisk itself lowered the cash price of injectable Wegovy to $349 per month in November.
The oral formulation is expected to broaden access to obesity treatment by offering a needle-free option that may be easier for patients to incorporate into daily routines. Novo Nordisk estimates that more than 100 million Americans live with obesity.
Following the announcement, Novo Nordisk shares rose more than 4%, though the stock remains significantly lower than a year ago as competition intensifies from rival Eli Lilly’s injectable drugs, including Mounjaro and Zepbound. Both companies have cut prices for patients paying out of pocket, while Eli Lilly is also developing its own oral obesity drug.
The Wegovy pill has so far been approved only in the United States. The starting dose is available at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including major chains such as CVS and Costco, as well as through select telehealth providers. Higher doses are expected to roll out later this week.
Cash-paying patients will also be able to purchase the starting dose through Donald Trump’s direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx. Meanwhile, the UK medicines regulator is reviewing Novo Nordisk’s application for the Wegovy pill and is expected to issue a decision later this year.
