A massively popular weight loss medication is now available in pill form, a change that could open the drug up to millions of patients.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said its once-daily Wegovy pill is now available in the U.S.
The medication will come in two doses – 1.5 milligrams and 4 mg – with the lower dose starting at $149 a month – $5 a day – for self-paying patients. The 4 mg dose will be available for $149 a month through April 15 then $199 a month after. The highest doses of the Wegovy pill will be available for $299.
Patients with insurance will pay less, generally about $25 a month.
“Wegovy pill is here, and it represents a significant innovation as the first and only GLP-1 pill for weight loss. This moment is about changing what’s possible in weight management, and to make that possible, we have worked to ensure Wegovy pill is affordable and accessible to those who need it, however they choose to receive their care,” said Ed Cinca, senior vice president, Marketing & Patient Solutions at Novo Nordisk.
It will be available at more than 70,000 pharmacies throughout the U.S., including national chains such as CVS and Costco, as well as through select telehealth providers such as Ro, LifeMD, Weight Watchers, NovoCare Pharmacy, GoodRx and more.
According to the company, patients who took the pill had an average weight loss of about 17%.
The Wegovy pill received Food and Drug Administration approval in December. Novo Nordisk launched Wegovy, its injectable semaglutide medication in 2021.