Costco is now selling the pricey blockbuster weight-loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic at discounted prices.
The Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk said Monday the medications cost $499 at Costco pharmacies for self-pay Costco members. Costco executive members and Costco Citibank Visa card holders can get another 2% off the discounted price, a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said.
Novo Nordisk has faced intense competition from rival Eli Lilly’s popular weight loss drugs Zepbound and Mounjaro. Medical spas and telehealth companies also market compounded versions of Ozempic and Wegovy, despite Food and Drug Administration restrictions on such sales.
Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations for Novo Nordisk, said the company partnered with Costco to make Wegovy and Ozempic easier to get and afford.
“By partnering with one of the country’s most trusted retailers, we are meeting people where they are and connecting them to real, FDA-approved medicines in our premium pen devices,” Moore said.
Fewer than half of employer plans cover weight-loss drugs
Wegovy and Ozempic are glucagon-like peptide-1 drugs, or GLP-1s, that suppress the appetite of users, leading to weight loss. Wegovy is prescribed for weight loss and adults with obesity and heart disease, while Ozempic is prescribed for Type 2 diabetes.
The FDA declared the shortage of diabetes and weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy has been resolved. The news could limit the availability of less expensive compounded versions of the medications.
While insurers often cover GLP-1 drugs when prescribed for diabetes or heart conditions, more than half of employer insurance plans refused to cover the medications for obesity. In 2024, 44% of all large employers covered GLP-1 drugs for obesity, up from 41% in 2023, according to Mercer, a benefits consultant.
Mercer said weight-loss drugs are among the most expensive prescriptions to cover due to the list price and the popularity among workers with employer insurance. Wegovy’s list price is $1,349.
Novo Nordisk previously announced the discount prescription drug website GoodRx would sell prescribed Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 per month. Consumers also can purchase prescribed Wegovy through the company’s NovoCare Pharmacy for $499 per month. The injectable medication’s price is the same for five dosages ranging from 0.25 to 2.4 milligrams and is shipped to consumers’ homes.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Costco pharmacy now sells weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy
