Topline
Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk said Tuesday it is slashing the price of Ozempic to $675 per month amid mounting scrutiny over the rising costs of weight-loss and diabetes treatments.
Novo Nordisk will cut the price of Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus to $675 per month.
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Key Facts
Ozempic will be reduced in price by 35%, according to Novo Nordisk, with its other weight-loss medications, Rybelsus and Wegovy, also dropping in price to $675.
The drugmaker said the cheaper list price will be in effect January 1, 2027.
The price reduction “does not have an impact on direct-to-patient, self-pay prices,” Novo Nordisk said, meaning the cuts are designed to reduce costs within the insured market.
Novo Nordisk reported net sales of $43.27 billion in 2025, with its obesity and weight-loss drugs accounting for a large percentage of its growth.
Crucial Quote
“The lower list price is intended to connect more people with our innovative medicines, specifically those whose out-of-pocket costs are linked to list price, such as individuals with high-deductible health plans or co-insurance benefit designs,” Jamey Millar, executive vice president of the US operations of Novo Nordisk said in a statement.
Key Background
Ozempic was originally approved for Type 2 diabetes but gained popularity as a weight-loss drug. Its momentum brought supply shortages and scrutiny over the costs, which exceeded $1,000. Novo Nordisk’s drug Wegovy drove billions of dollars in revenue for the drug-maker, but lawmakers have criticized the wide gap between U.S. and international prices and warned that broad Medicare coverage of obesity drugs could add tens of billions of dollars in federal spending annually. The Trump administration has promoted “Most-Favored Nation” pricing initiatives aimed at preventing Americans from paying more than patients overseas, but the policies have faced legal challenges.
Novo Nordisk’s Competitors
The move also intensifies competition in the fast-growing GLP-1 market, where Novo Nordisk faces pressure from rival drugmaker Eli Lilly, which makes diabetes medication Mounjaro and weight-loss drug Zepbound. Eli Lilly’s medications have been found to be more effective, according to studies, helping Eli Lilly rapidly gain the market share.
