Novo Nordisk launches weight-loss pill in US, sparking price war

Novo Nordisk has officially launched the first-ever pill version of its GLP-1 weight-loss drug, Wegovy, in the United States, offering it at a significantly lower price than its injectable counterparts. The pill, approved by US regulators just before Christmas, is now available for patients and is expected to shake up the competitive weight-loss drug market.

The once-a-day Wegovy pill, which mimics the GLP-1 hormone to reduce appetite, is priced for self-paying patients at $5 a day, or $149 per month for the starting 1.5mg dose. The move to make the pill more affordable and needle-free aims to attract the 100 million Americans struggling with obesity, expanding access to this treatment. Higher doses are also available, with the 4mg starting at $149 per month, rising to $199 after April 15, and the highest doses priced at $299 monthly. Patients with insurance coverage pay as little as $25 per month, The Guardian writes. 

Novo Nordisk’s price point for the Wegovy pill is significantly lower than that of its injectable alternatives, which typically cost $1,000 a month or more. Matt Weston, a pharmaceutical analyst at UBS, noted that the price is "lower than expected," offering a competitive edge over rivals. This comes after the Danish pharmaceutical giant began selling Wegovy injections at a reduced price of $349 per month for cash-paying patients in November.

The introduction of the Wegovy pill is seen as an attempt by Novo Nordisk to reclaim market share after facing fierce competition from Eli Lilly’s weight-loss drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. Despite a recent 44% drop in its share price, Novo Nordisk hopes that the pill will boost sales and offer new solutions to the growing demand for effective weight loss treatments.

“We know there are people who are interested in addressing their weight but have been waiting on the sidelines for a medicine that was right for them,” said Ed Cinca, senior vice-president of marketing and patient solutions at Novo Nordisk. “For many of them, that wait is over as we can now offer the powerful efficacy of Wegovy in a once-daily pill that demonstrated about 17% weight loss, if all patients stayed on treatment.”

Currently, the Wegovy pill is only approved for use in the US, but Novo is hoping for approval in the UK by the end of this year. 

By Sabina Mammadli