Novo Nordisk Offers Ozempic for $499 a Month via GoodRx and NovoCare
Novo Nordisk announced on Monday that it will offer its diabetes drug Ozempic for $499 per month to eligible cash-paying type 2 diabetes patients in the U.S. The medicine will be sold through Novo’s own pharmacy, a partnership with GoodRx, and other platforms.
Shares of Novo Nordisk rose 5.3%, while GoodRx stock surged 34.2% following the news.
Direct-to-Consumer Expansion
Both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) have expanded into direct-to-consumer sales. The move comes as online telehealth companies and pharmacies continue to sell cheaper, compounded versions of the popular drugs.
Novo already sells Wegovy, the weight-loss version of Ozempic, through NovoCare for the same monthly price of $499. The new Ozempic offer targets patients who lack insurance coverage.
Market Impact and FDA Approval
Novo shares also gained after Wegovy secured U.S. FDA approval for treating the liver disease metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) last Friday.
GoodRx confirmed it will sell both Wegovy and Ozempic at $499 a month to eligible self-paying patients.
A Novo spokesperson said the company expects Ozempic cash sales to account for about 10% of total prescriptions, the same penetration level seen with Wegovy.
Competition With Eli Lilly
Novo Nordisk faces rising competition from copycat drugs and pressure from Eli Lilly. List prices for both Ozempic and Wegovy in the U.S. exceed $1,000 per month, though insured patients usually pay much less.
Eli Lilly offers its weight-loss drug Zepbound through LillyDirect for $499 per month or less, regardless of insurance status. However, Lilly does not sell its diabetes drug Mounjaro on the same platform.
Expanding Access to Semaglutide Medicines
Novo said its new Ozempic pricing is part of broader efforts to expand access to authentic semaglutide treatments. In April, the company partnered with telehealth providers Ro and LifeMD to sell Wegovy directly to cash-paying patients.
