Novo Nordisk launched a multi-month subscription program for its Wegovy obesity drug on March 31, offering eligible self-pay patients lower monthly prices on both the injection and pill versions of the product.
The program offers tiered subscription lengths — three, six, or 12 months — with the longest commitment yielding the steepest discount. At the 12-month tier, both the Wegovy injection and pill are priced at $249 per month; Novo estimates that translates to annual savings of $1,200 on the injection and $600 on the pill relative to month-to-month purchases. Pricing does not change if a patient moves between doses during the subscription term, the company said.
At launch, the program is accessible through telehealth platforms Ro, WeightWatchers, and LifeMD; Hims & Hers, Sesame, and additional partners are expected to be added in the coming weeks. Patients enroll directly through those platforms. Novo Nordisk said the program is not yet available through its NovoCare direct-to-consumer pharmacy.
Outside the subscription structure, self-pay patients can purchase the 1.5 mg and 4 mg pill doses at $149 per month, though the 4 mg dose is scheduled to increase to $199 per month in September. The newly approved 7.2 mg injection will be incorporated into the subscription program at a later date.
"The new Wegovy subscription program removes barriers, providing people who enroll a simple, affordable, and consistent way to start and stay on genuine, FDA-approved treatment," Ed Cinca, Novo's senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions, said in a statement.
Cinca confirmed to CNBC that enrollment is not locked in — patients retain the ability to exit mid-subscription. He described the program's broader aim as addressing both the clinical challenge of long-term adherence and the financial unpredictability that can push patients off treatment.
Persistence on GLP-1 drugs has proven difficult for many patients: a 2025 study cited by CNBC found that approximately two-thirds of patients with obesity discontinue treatment before completing a full year.
The subscription launch comes at a competitive moment for Novo Nordisk. The company received FDA approval for an oral version of Wegovy in late 2025, and the pill has seen strong early uptake among self-pay patients. But Eli Lilly $LLY, which commands roughly 60% of the U.S. branded GLP-1 market compared with Novo's approximately 39% share, is working toward its own oral GLP-1 launch later this year, according to CNBC. Novo Nordisk has also guided for declining sales and profit in 2026 amid pricing pressures and increasing competition.
For patients with commercial insurance, Wegovy remains available for as little as $25 per month through existing savings programs, the company said. The drug is also stocked at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies.