00:00In a major shift in the diabetes and weight loss drug market, Novo Nordisk is slashing the price
00:05of Ozempic to $499 a month for cash-paying customers in the United States. That price
00:12covers a three-dose supply of the weekly injection. The discount is aimed at patients
00:20with type 2 diabetes who do not have insurance coverage. The new price will be offered through
00:25Novo Nordisk's website, its patient assistance program, and a new direct-to-consumer pharmacy.
00:31Ozempic's list price before insurance is about $1,350 a month. Drug savings platform GoodRx is
00:39also advertising the same $499 per month cash price for both Ozempic and its weight loss counterpart
00:47Wagovi. More than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide carry the drugs. The move comes after many patients turn
00:53to cheaper compounds and follows pressure from President Trump, who urged drug makers in July
00:59to lower costs by selling directly to patients and businesses. Ozempic and Wagovi are part of a class
01:06of drugs known as GLP-1s, which mimic hormones that regulate blood sugar and suppress appetite.
01:12The active ingredient, semaglutide, has skyrocketed in popularity for both diabetes management and
01:18weight loss. Back in March, Novo Nordisk introduced the same $499 per month cash price for Wagovi as it
01:26battles competitor Eli Lilly and its well-known brand Manjaro for supremacy. For more unbiased
01:32updates, download the Straight Arrow News app or go to san.com.
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