Novo Nordisk Launches Affordable Wegovy Pill, Intensifying U.S. GLP‑1 Competition

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant behind the blockbuster Wegovy and Ozempic injections, has launched the first GLP‑1‑based weight‑loss pill in the United States at a markedly lower price than its injectable counterparts. Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just before Christmas, the once‑daily Wegovy pill is now available across more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS and Costco, as well as through telehealth platforms such as Ro, LifeMD and Weight Watchers. The launch signals a strategic shift toward broader accessibility. The starting 1.5 mg dose is offered at $5 per day (about £3.70) or $149 per month for cash‑paying patients, representing a steep drop from the roughly $1,000 monthly list price of weight‑loss injections. Subsequent 4 mg and higher doses are priced at $149 and $199 per month until mid‑April, with the maximum dose costing $299 per month. Patients with insurance will pay as little as $25 per month. Industry analysts noted that the price point was lower than expected. UBS’s Matt Weston highlighted the disparity, pointing out that Novo’s Wegovy injection had begun retailing at $349 per month for cash customers only a few months prior. The price cut reflects Novo’s intent to recapture market share following a 44 % decline in share price over the past year and intensified competition from Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Zepbound injections. Novo’s new offering does more than cut costs. By eliminating the need for injections, the pill promises greater convenience and adherence, potentially expanding its appeal to a wider patient base. “People who have long hesitated due to the inconvenience of injections now have a viable, needle‑free alternative that delivers similar weight‑loss efficacy—about 17 %—if adhered to continuously,” said Ed Cinca, senior vice‑president of marketing and patient solutions at Novo. The U.K. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is currently reviewing Novo’s application for Wegovy there, with an expected decision before year‑end. Meanwhile, Eli Lilly is advancing its own anti‑obesity pill, which, if approved, could see its higher doses capped at $399 per month for cash‑paying patients. Novo’s launch has already sparked a broader price war within the sector, as both Novo and Eli Lilly have reduced list prices for cash buyers while maintaining substantial discounts for insurance channels. The Wegovy pill’s availability through major pharmacy chains and telehealth, coupled with a generous direct‑to‑consumer marketing push—including sales via Donald Trump’s TrumpRx website—underscores the company’s commitment to expanding obese patients’ treatment options. With this move, Novo Nordisk aims to reclaim a leadership position in obesity therapeutics and demonstrate that effective, affordable GLP‑1 medication can be delivered without needles.