Novo Nordisk is introducing the first GLP-1 pill for weight loss in the U.S. Prices range from $149 to $299 per month, offering a more affordable option compared to weekly injections. The Wegovy pill will be available at over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies and telehealth providers, with different dosages priced accordingly.
Cash-paying patients can access the starting dose of the Wegovy pill for $149 per month, with higher doses costing $299 per month. Insurance coverage can reduce costs to as low as $25 per month. The pill will also be offered on President Donald Trump’s direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx, expanding accessibility for those with obesity.
Novo Nordisk’s oral drug provides hope for over 100 million Americans with obesity. The company’s pill offers a more cost-effective option compared to injections, with a list price of $1,000 per month. The launch of the Wegovy pill gives Novo Nordisk a head start in the weight loss drug market.
The FDA has also approved Novo Nordisk’s pill for reducing the risk of major cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease. The approval aligns with the company’s blockbuster weight loss drug, Wegovy, which shares the same active ingredient, semaglutide. The Wegovy pill works by mimicking the gut hormone GLP-1 to suppress appetite.
In a phase three trial, Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide helped patients lose up to 16.6% of their weight on average after 64 weeks. The pill requires patients to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking each day. This oral drug appears to be slightly more effective than Eli Lilly’s experimental oral drug, offering a promising option for weight management.
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