For years, pharmaceutical companies have been racing to develop a market-ready GLP-1 weight-loss pill to join the ranks of popular injectables. Today, Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy is officially available for purchase.
The Wegovy pill, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, has been in clinical trials for over two years and was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on December 22. It is the first and only oral GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) medication for weight loss in adults that’s available in the U.S. According to a press release from Novo Nordisk, the pill hit the market on January 5 at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies and several popular telehealth providers.
Per a KFF health-tracking poll released in November, 1 in 8 Americans were already taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. The new Wegovy pill likely represents an incoming era of even more widespread access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.
“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,” Ed Cinca, Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions, said in the press release. For many of them, he added, the wait is over.
As of this writing, Novo Nordisk’s stock is up about 4% since the announcement. Here’s what to know about the company’s new pill.
How much does the Wegovy pill cost?
Like the injectable version of Wegovy, its pill form will require a prescription from a doctor. It’s available in multiple doses, including 1.5 milligrams (which is considered a starter dose, to help the body build up a tolerance), 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg.
Novo Nordisk says prices for self-pay patients will start at $149 per month for the 1.5 mg dose. The 4 mg dose will also be available for $149 per month through April 15, 2026, then $199 per month after. The highest dose of 25 mg will be available for $299 per month.
Where is the Wegovy pill available?
Starting today, the Wegovy pill is available at more than 70,000 pharmacies, including CVS and Costco; telehealth providers like Ro, LifeMD, and Weight Watchers; and NovoCare Pharmacy (Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-patient service), GoodRx, and more.
For its part, GoodRx (which is a healthcare company that provides coupons and savings to be applied in pharmacies) announced in its own press release that it will help consumers access the Wegovy pill at a variety of pharmacies for its lowest price of $149 per month at the 1.5 mg and 4 mg dosages. The news comes after GoodRx first joined forces with Novo Nordisk in September to offer the lowest-ever out-of-pocket prices for injectable Ozempic and Wegovy.