Novo Nordisk Slashes Ozempic Price for Self-Paying Patients, Aiming to Combat Counterfeits and Lower Drug Costs

Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk has revealed that U.S. patients can now purchase a month’s supply of Ozempic, their blockbuster diabetes treatment, for $499 without insurance. This move comes amidst pressure from President Trump for drug manufacturers to lower costs, which have long been a significant healthcare concern for Americans.

Popular but expensive GLP-1 drugs, used for both diabetes management and weight loss, are particularly costly in the U.S., leading to criticism. To address this issue, Trump has advocated for direct sales of medications to consumers at reduced prices, bypassing insurers and other intermediaries.

Novo Nordisk is offering Ozempic, priced at approximately $1,000 per month, via their NovoCare Pharmacy, which delivers medication directly to cash-paying customers. The company previously launched this direct-to-consumer pharmacy service for their weight loss drug Wegovy in early 2021, also at a price of $499 per month. Competitor Eli Lilly has also reduced the price of its GLP-1 weight loss drug, Zepbound, for self-pay patients.

The discounted Ozempic price is accessible through various platforms, including Novo Nordisk’s website and through a partnership with GoodRx. Eligible patients with an Ozempic prescription can avail of this offer. While insurers are more likely to cover Ozempic for diabetes patients, Novo Nordisk offers discounts for those with coverage. However, the company aims to expand Ozempic’s availability beyond this demographic.

“Although Ozempic is well-covered in the U.S., it’s important to remember that there are some patients who pay out-of-pocket for this essential medication,” stated Dave Moore, Executive Vice President of Novo Nordisk’s U.S. operations. “We believe that even a single patient resorting to potentially unsafe and unapproved counterfeit alternatives is one too many.”

In their second-quarter earnings call this month, Novo Nordisk cited compounding pharmacies, which can produce approved medications in case of shortages by the US Food and Drug Administration, as affecting sales of their GLP-1 drugs. The FDA has since removed Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide-based drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, along with Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide-based drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro, from the shortage list. However, Novo Nordisk reports that compounded versions continue to be sold.