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As part of an effort to improve access to authentic versions of its GLP-1 medications, Novo Nordisk is cutting the cost of its popular diabetes drug Ozempic by nearly half.

In an Aug. 18 press release, the Danish drugmaker announced cash-paying, uninsured U.S. patients with Type 2 diabetes can now purchase a monthly supply for $499.

According to Novo Nordisk, the lower-cost doses will be available for home delivery via NovoCare, the company’s recently launched direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, and from more than 70,000 pharmacies nationwide via a collaboration with drug savings platform GoodRx.

In March, Novo Nordisk discounted the price of its weight loss injection Wegovy from $650 per month to $499 per month for patients paying cash.

The real thing

In a statement, Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, said, “While Ozempic is well covered in the U.S., let’s not forget that there are some patients who pay out-of-pocket for this vital medicine. We believe that if even a single patient feels the need to turn to potentially unsafe and unapproved knockoff alternatives, that’s one too many.”

Moore continued, “This is why we felt it was important to make Ozempic, the GLP-1 with the broadest range of FDA-approved indications for adults with type 2 diabetes, more affordable to those without insurance who deserve the real thing.”

The latest offer comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration clamps down on the mass production and selling of GLP-1 knockoffs. Novo Nordisk has also filed nearly 120 lawsuits to stop the marketing and sale of what it describes as copycats or misbranded compounded versions.

We believe that if even a single patient feels the need to turn to potentially unsafe and unapproved knockoff alternatives, that’s one too many.
– Dave Moore, EVP, U.S. operations, Novo Nordisk

Additionally, the pharma said it has invested $6.5 billion over the past year to increase the domestic manufacturing capacity of Wegovy and Ozempic.

Novo Nordisk – which has its U.S. headquarters in Plainsboro – is also among pharmaceutical companies that face mounting political pressure from President Donald Trump to lower drug prices.