Novo Nordisk has expanded access to its $499-per-month Wegovy® offer, making the weight-loss medication available at this lower price through retail pharmacies for all eligible cash-paying patients. Originally launched through the company’s NovoCare Pharmacy, the offer now covers all Wegovy® dose strengths—from 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg—at pharmacies nationwide.

The move positions Novo ahead of rival Eli Lilly, which launched a similar program for its weight-loss drug Zepbound™. Both companies have introduced discounted options outside of insurance as compounding pharmacies continue selling copycat versions of these medications.

Patients with government-funded insurance are not eligible for the offer. However, those with commercial insurance that covers Wegovy may still pay as little as $0 to $25 per month.

The update comes as the FDA sets formal deadlines for compounders to stop producing unapproved semaglutide injection products. State-licensed pharmacies (503A) must cease by April 22, 2025, while outsourcing facilities (503B) have until May 22, 2025. The FDA has reported hundreds of adverse events tied to compounded versions of these drugs, including cases that required hospitalization due to dosing errors and product quality concerns.

For more information, please visit Fierce Pharma.