Novo Nordisk to Provide Cash Options for Wegovy Through Online Pharmacy
All dosages of semaglutide (Wegovy) under the new program will be available at $499 per month for patients that are uninsured or who do not have coverage for obesity medication.
Novo Nordisk launched NovoCare Pharmacy, a direct-to-patient delivery option that will allow patients to pay cash for semaglutide (Wegovy) in all dosages at a reduced cost of $499 per month. The company made the offer available for patients who are uninsured or patients with commercial insurance who do not have coverage for obesity medication.1
Patients that are part of the program can schedule shipments of semaglutide prescriptions directly to their home, which will be fulfilled by CenterWell Pharmacy. | Image Credit: Natalia | stock.adobe.com
"Novo Nordisk continues to advance solutions for patients that improve affordability and access to our medicines, whether they have insurance or not. Today, over 55 million people in the US have coverage specifically for weight management medicines, and 90% of Wegovy patients with coverage pay $0 to $25 a month for Wegovy," Dave Moore, executive vice president of US operations and global business development and president of Novo Nordisk Inc, said in a news release.1 "With NovoCare Pharmacy, patients and prescribers alike have another option that provides convenient access to all doses of real, FDA-approved Wegovy at a reduced cost in our high-quality pen."
Patients that are part of the program can schedule shipments of semaglutide prescriptions directly to their home, which will be fulfilled by CenterWell Pharmacy. Further, the program will also offer patients benefit verification, refill reminders, and access to live support.1
Recently, Eli Lilly expanded their similar program for tirzepatide (Zepbound) to include 7.5 mg and 10 mg single-dose vials as part of the Zepbound Self Pay Journey Program. With the expansion, the company also reduced the price of the 2.5 mg and 5 mg vials through LillyDirect Self Pay Pharmacy Solutions. For Eli Lilly’s program, patients have the option to self-pay $249 per month for the 2.5 mg vial and $499 for the 5 mg, 7.5 mg, and 10 mg vials.2
This announcement comes only a few weeks after the FDA declared the shortage of semaglutide, both Ozempic and Wegovy, being resolved, which signals that the US supply of the medication now meets or exceeds the current and projected demand. Wegovy has been in shortage since March 2022, and Ozempic has been in shortage since August 2022, so the declaration comes nearly 3 years after the shortage began.3
Similarly to tirzepatide, the Outsourcing Facilities Associations (OFA) sued the FDA, claiming that the FDA “arbitrarily dismiss[ed] evidence that the shortage persists.” OFA claims that the FDA “deprive[d] patients of a vital treatment for type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other serious medical conditions” by declaring the shortage over, even though the OFA claims that the agency “confirmed there remains a semaglutide shortage and that 'many’ patients cannot access semaglutide products.”4
Because the shortage has been declared resolved, the FDA stated that there may be intermittent and limited localized supply disruptions, but the agency will not take action against compounders violating the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act for state-licensed pharmacy or physician compounding, under section 503A, and for outsourcing facilities, under sections 503B, until April 22, 2025, and May 22, 2025, respectively.3
READ MORE: Obesity Management Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
