Novo Nordisk is now offering its diabetes medication Ozempic to cash-paying US patients at a price that’s less than half the monthly list price. Through various platforms, including its official website and direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, patients can pay $499 per month for three dose sizes of Ozempic. This move comes as drugmakers face pressure to lower prices amid rising demand for their treatments.
The discount is available at more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide through the GoodRx platform, which also ships the injection directly to patients’ homes. Novo Nordisk aims to expand access to eligible Type 2 diabetes patients who lack insurance coverage for the weekly injection.
Ozempic’s list price before insurance and rebates is almost $1,350 per month, making it a frequent target of criticism in recent years. The move by Novo Nordisk follows President Donald Trump’s call on drugmakers to lower prices, including adopting models that sell medicines directly to consumers or businesses.
By offering Ozempic at a discounted price, Novo Nordisk aims to ensure patients use the branded medication instead of cheaper compounded copycats. This is part of an effort to make the treatment available to more people while minimizing the risk of using potentially unsafe alternatives. Other companies, including Eli Lilly, have also moved to slash prices on their diabetes medications for cash-paying patients in a bid to dominate the market for GLP-1s.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/08/18/novo-nordisk-offers-diabetes-drug-ozempic-for-steep-cash-discount.html