Novo Nordisk offers discounted Wegovy through direct-to-consumer pharmacy

Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Weight Loss Drug Sees Meteoric Rise in Popularity

Novo Nordisk on Wednesday said it will offer its weight loss drug Wegovy for less than half of its usual price per month through a new direct-to-consumer online pharmacy.

Direct-to-Consumer Online Pharmacy

The cash-pay offering is available to millions of patients without insurance coverage for the blockbuster injection. It aims to make Wegovy available to more people, while also ensuring that patients use the branded medication instead of cheaper compounded copycats that exploded in popularity during a recently resolved U.S. shortage of Novo Nordisk’s drug.

The pharmacy, called NovoCare, will allow patients to pay $499 in cash per month for the weekly drug. Wegovy’s list price before insurance and other rebates is almost $1,350 per month.

Patient Support Services

The site can also ship Wegovy prescriptions directly to patients’ homes through a specialty pharmacy partner. NovoCare will also offer refill reminders and access to live support from a case manager at the company, among other patient support services.

Industry Move

The company’s move follows a similar strategy from its main rival, Eli Lilly. The two companies are fighting to dominate the market for so-called GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar.

Eli Lilly’s Direct-to-Consumer Online Pharmacy

Eli Lilly in January 2024 launched its own direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, LillyDirect, to help patients access its weight loss drug Zepbound. The website allows eligible patients to get a prescription through a telehealth provider and can provide home delivery. More recently, LillyDirect also started offering Zepbound in single-dose vials that are half or even less than its usual $1,000 monthly list price.

FDA Shortages

In recent months, the Food and Drug Administration has declared the U.S. shortages of both Zepbound and Wegovy over. That decision will prevent certain compounding pharmacies from creating unapproved versions of the injections.

Conclusion

Novo Nordisk’s new direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, NovoCare, aims to make Wegovy more accessible to patients, while also ensuring that they use the branded medication instead of cheaper compounded copycats. This move is part of the company’s efforts to dominate the market for GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar.

FAQs

Q: What is Wegovy?
A: Wegovy is a weight loss drug developed by Novo Nordisk that works by mimicking certain gut hormones to suppress appetite and regulate blood sugar.

Q: What is the usual price of Wegovy?
A: The usual price of Wegovy before insurance and other rebates is almost $1,350 per month.

Q: How much will patients have to pay for Wegovy through NovoCare?
A: Patients will have to pay $499 in cash per month for Wegovy through NovoCare.

Q: What services will NovoCare offer to patients?
A: NovoCare will offer refill reminders and access to live support from a case manager at the company, among other patient support services.