ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco members will soon have access to the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy at more than 500 of the retailer’s pharmacies nationwide.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer of both drugs, said Costco will sell the prescription-only injectable pens for $499 per month out of pocket — matching the price currently offered at CVS, Walmart and the company’s own direct-to-consumer platform.
That amount is approximately half the list price for Ozempic and about one-third lower than Wegovy. Executive members and Costco Citibank Visa cardholders will receive an additional 2% cash-back reward through the chain’s prescription program, according to Novo Nordisk.
“We continue to find new ways to make access to our medicines more convenient, meeting people where they are,” a company spokeswoman said, speaking to the New York Times, which first reported on Costco’s plans.
The move extends Novo Nordisk’s retail pharmacy partnerships at a time when demand for GLP-1-based weight-loss drugs continues to surge. The active ingredient in both medications, semaglutide, mimics a natural hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar — a mechanism that has made the treatments some of the most sought-after prescriptions in the U.S.
Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer pricing, along with Costco’s entry into the category, could help reach patients who are paying out of pocket as insurers continue to limit coverage for weight-loss drugs.
Costco, which serves more than 100 million members annually and ranks as the world’s third-largest retailer by revenue behind Walmart and Amazon, offers a significant new distribution channel for Novo Nordisk.
Studies have shown that patients taking semaglutide can lose around 10% of their body weight and sustain the results over several years. Analysts estimate that about 7 million Americans currently use GLP-1 drugs, with that number expected to reach 24 million by 2035.
