Novo Nordisk cuts sticker price of weight-loss drugs
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Novo Nordisk on Tuesday said it's lowering the list price for its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs by as much as half starting next year, to $675 per month.
Why it matters: The move could help lower out-of-pocket costs for certain patients whose insurance plans can leave them exposed.
Between the lines: The change does not affect the cash price people pay for GLP-1 treatments if they don't have insurance.
- The company also does not expect it to alter the net price, or what health plans actually pay after factoring in manufacturer discounts.
- The move still could help patients whose insurance plans have high deductibles or coinsurance, which is often paid as a percentage of the list price.
What they're saying: Jamey Millar, Novo Nordisk's executive vice president, U.S. operations, told Axios the move is based on "learning since launch, and the desire to make these medicines more accessible and affordable, in particular for patients that are subject to high-deductible health plans or coinsurance benefit designs."
By the numbers: Wegovy, Ozempic and the GLP-1 pill Rybelsus will all have $675 per month list prices beginning Jan. 1, 2027. That's down from about $1,350 for Wegovy currently and about $1,000 for Ozempic and Rybelsus.
The big picture: Unlike the pricing deal the company announced with the White House in November, Millar said "we didn't deal with the White House on this, or the administration."
- Still, the announcement comes on the morning of President Trump's State of the Union address, where he is likely to talk about his efforts to lower drug prices.
- "Certainly, this is consistent with themes and narratives this administration has voiced," Millar said. But he added: "This call for lower list prices has been evident for really the last eight years across administrations."
- The move also comes as Novo Nordisk has been locked in a tough battle with rival Eli Lilly in the obesity drug market. There is also competition from copycat versions from telehealth platforms.
