NEW YORK — The first GLP-1 pill is now available at pharmacies.
Approved late last month, Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy opens new possibilities for the more than 100 million Americans living with obesity, the company said. The 1.5 mg pill is used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with obesity, or with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose weight and keep it off.
“The Wegovy pill is really good news for everybody, both the insured and uninsured,” said Eric Levin, chief executive officer of pharmacy navigation company Scripta Insights. “Its pricing is cheaper than the cost of a GLP-1 injectable at the lowest dose. This is just the first of many oral GLP-1s we could see this year, which could drive the cost down even further.”
Ed Cinca, senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions at Novo Nordisk, said, “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. For many of them, that wait is over, as we can now offer the powerful efficacy of Wegovy in a once-daily pill that demonstrated about 17% weight loss if all patients stayed on treatment.”
“This moment is about changing what’s possible in weight management, and to make that possible, we have worked to ensure Wegovy pill is affordable and accessible to those who need it, however they choose to receive their care,” he said.
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Sam’s Club pharmacies are offering starting doses of oral Wegovy for $149 per month via Novo Nordisk’s self-pay offer, with free same-day delivery for Plus members. The pharmacies are focused not just on access, but on helping members understand what starting GLP-1 therapy actually looks like in everyday life.
“Members don’t just want the medication,” said Taylor Kravatz, pharmacy manager at Sam’s Club in Sunrise, Fla. “They want to understand how to use it well. When people feel supported, they’re more confident and more likely to stick with healthy routines.”
Known for her calm, approachable style, Kravatz regularly sits down with members to talk through what initiating GLP-1 therapy may involve and how to set realistic expectations from day one.
That commitment to care earned her recognition as Sam’s Club’s 2024 Pharmacist of the Year, selected from more than 3,500 pharmacists and pharmacy technicians nationwide.
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Amazon Pharmacy is also offering Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill, the first and only FDA-approved oral GLP-1 for weight management, through many insurance plans as well as a transparent cash-pay option.
“Amazon Pharmacy is focused on making it easier for customers to access the latest innovations in weight loss care,” said Tanvi Patel, vice president and general manager of Amazon Pharmacy. “By offering Wegovy through both insurance and a straightforward cash-pay option, we’re giving people more choice, greater transparency, and fewer barriers to care.”
At Giant Eagle Pharmacy the newly launched RxSmartSaver powered by GoodRx allows patients to instantly unlock savings on brand medications including the new pill for $149 per month, as well as Wegovy injections and Eli Lilly and Co.’s Ozempic injection for $199 per month.
Lilly’s once-daily oral GLP-1 Orforglipron is being evaluated for safety in the treatment of weight loss and type 2 diabetes through clinical trials conducted by the company. Preliminary results have been positive, and additional data are expected to be released by the end of March. It is not yet approved for use.
