One patient claims he lost his vision due to Ozempic.
He took Ozempic to manage his diabetes. A few months later, he says he lost his eyesight and lost his job. He is currently suing over what he claims happened.
The weight-loss drugs that sparked America’s GLP-1 craze are becoming much cheaper, but only some customers will realize the savings.
Novo Nordisk announced that it will reduce the list price of its blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drugs Ozempic, Libersus, and Wigoby to $675 for a one-month supply starting January 1, 2027. Currently, all three drugs have a list price of more than $1,000 for a one-month supply, with Wegoby injections and tablets being the most expensive at $1,349.
The price reduction has no impact on consumers who pay cash for weight loss drugs. Novo Nordisk officials said the price cuts are aimed at making the drug more affordable for consumers with insurance plans that link coverage to the drug’s list price.
Thousands sued over GLP-1 drugs: patients claim
Thousands of patients have filed lawsuits alleging GLP-1 drug harm. Drugs include Ozempic, Wigoby, and Munjaro.
The price cuts also come as Novo Nordisk faces intense competition from pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, whose obesity drug Zepbound is gaining market share in the weight-loss market.
On February 23, Novo Nordisk announced late-stage trial results showing that participants who took its next-generation obesity drug, Kagrisema, did not lose as much weight as those who took rival Eli Lilly’s Zepbound. Novo Nordisk shares fell 16% on Monday after the company announced direct results for its weight loss drug.
Which Wegovy and Ozempic customers can save money?
For cash-paying customers, Novo previously lowered the price of Wegovy and most Ozempic injectables from $499 to $349 per month for consumers who purchase their drugs directly from drug companies, telemedicine partners or retail pharmacies.
Lilly also previously announced price reductions for consumers who purchase Zepbound directly.
Novo Nordisk President Jamie Miller said the list price reductions for Ozempic and Wigoby should make the drugs more affordable for consumers who must pay coinsurance, or a portion of the total cost of the drug, for coverage. The price cuts should also help consumers with high-deductible plans that require participants to pay a certain amount before coverage kicks in.
“We believe this is in response to repeated calls for list price reductions on Capitol Hill and elsewhere, as well as calls for list price reductions from patients who want access to these innovative medicines,” Miller said.
Seven in 10 people who have taken a GLP-1 drug said the cost of the drug influenced their decision to start or continue treatment, according to a study published on February 24. A survey of nearly 2,000 people commissioned by Navitus Health Solutions found that one in four people pay more than $250 for each prescription filled.
Sharon Faust, chief pharmacy officer at Navitus, said the study highlighted concerns about the cost and availability of GLP-1 drugs.
“There are difficult trade-offs for patients and plan sponsors alike,” Faust said.
Employers often pass on the cost of diabetes drugs such as Ozempic and Lilly’s Munjaro to their employees, but employers are less likely to pass on the cost of weight-loss drugs.
A study by benefits consultant Mercer found that 49% of large employers will cover GLP-1 drugs in 2025, up from 41% in 2023. Another study by the health policy nonprofit KFF found that 43% of large employers will be paying for anti-obesity drugs in 2025.
Novo’s Miller said the company announced the price cuts more than 10 months before the list price changes went into effect, in part to allow employers, health insurance companies and other businesses to plan benefits around lower prices.
The goal is to “improve the traditional insurance-based aspects of the market in terms of quality, access and affordability,” Miller added.
Novo’s next-generation drug is under-researched
Novo is developing CagriSema as a potential successor to Wegovy.
Novo’s study results, published on February 23, compared Kaglisema to Lilly’s tirzepatide in weight loss. Tilzepatide is sold in the United States under the brand names Zepbound for weight loss and Mounjaro for diabetes.
The study showed that CagriSema achieved 23% weight loss over 84 weeks, while Eli Lilly’s trial of tirzepatide achieved 25.5% weight loss.
In a conference call Monday, Feb. 23, Novo executives said Kaglisema still has the potential to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration by the end of 2026 and to be released in 2027, with the highest weight-loss effects of any drug on the market.
Both Novo and Lilly face competition from telemedicine companies that still sell combination versions of anti-obesity drugs, often at lower prices. Novo recently sued Hims & Hers, which the company said should put other telemedicine companies on notice.
“We expect all of them to be mindful of the potential consequences of continuing their actions,” John Kuckelman, group general counsel for Novo Nordisk, told USA TODAY.
Contributed by: Reuters
