Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) has rolled out a new subscription-based pricing program in the United States aimed at patients paying out of pocket for Wegovy without insurance coverage. The initiative provides monthly discounts of up to 29% through several telehealth providers.
Beginning Tuesday, eligible self-pay patients can obtain three-, six-, or 12-month supplies of Wegovy at fixed monthly prices via telehealth platforms including Ro, WeightWatchers, and LifeMD. Additional digital health providers such as Hims & Hers and Sesame are expected to participate in the program in the near future.
Under the new pricing structure, Wegovy injection pens are offered at $329 per month for a three-month plan, $299 per month for a six-month plan, and $249 per month for a 12-month subscription. These prices represent discounts ranging from 6% to 29% compared with the standard $349 monthly price. The oral version of Wegovy is priced at $289, $269, and $249 per month for the same subscription durations, reflecting discounts of roughly 3% to 17% from the typical $299 monthly cost.
Ed Cinca, Novo’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions, said patients were seeking “easier and clearer ways of facilitating payment” for obesity management. He added that individuals paying out of pocket are looking for predictable costs and straightforward pricing.
Meanwhile, rival drugmaker Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY) offers its own self-pay program for the competing obesity treatment Zepbound, with prices starting at $299 per month for the 2.5 mg dose, $399 for the 5 mg dose, and $449 for 7.5 mg and higher doses under its Self Pay Journey Program. Lilly is also awaiting a decision from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on its oral obesity treatment candidate, with approval expected in the second quarter.