Huge changes to the price of Ozempic have been announced following demands made from President Donald Trump.
The president called out GLP-1 agonists for costing more money in the US compared with other countries.
Trump claimed that European countries were ‘unfairly shifting the cost burden onto American patients’ and vowed to ‘slash the cost of prescription drugs’ by as much as 80%.
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Now, it seems like Novo Nordisk, the company behind weight loss drug Ozempic, have reacted to the comments, slashing the price of the drug from $1,000 to $499.
This new pricing will be available through its direct pharmacy service but it will mean coughing up the cash upfront, instead of using insurance.
Meanwhile, over in the UK, Mounjaro announced that its prices would be increasing by over triple from next month.
As a result, sales of Ozempic in the UK have skyrocketed by 500 to 600%.
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Under an alternative brand, Wegovy, Novo Nordisk is offering the weight loss drug for just $499 under its NovaCare pharmacy for people who are willing to pay for the medication themselves without insurance, and will forgo reimbursement.
In a statement to LADbible Group, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said: “As a leader in the GLP-1 category, Novo Nordisk is taking a progressive approach to drive access and meet patients where they are. In accordance with this focus, beginning August 18, Novo Nordisk will support self-paying patients in the US with the costs of their medication, launching a self-pay offer for all doses of Ozempic®, enabling patients without adequate insurance coverage to obtain this prescription-only medicine for $499 per month.”
In other weight loss news, one doctor has broken down just what happens inside your body during the first month of treatment from a GLP-1 drug.
Dr Donald Grant, who is a GP and Senior Clinical Advisor at The Independent Pharmacy, has revealed what people can actually expect during their first month on Mounjaro - although, this can differ from person to person.
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The medication works by regulating blood sugar and appetite and is administered through a weekly injection.
Dr Grant explained: “People could also begin to experience common Mounjaro side effects like headaches, nausea, diarrhoea and indigestion, although these should ease as the body gets used to the medication.”
He added: “As people are probably eating and drinking less, they could become dehydrated or tired more easily. I recommend reducing these effects by eating a healthy, balanced diet and drinking plenty of water.
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“Some may notice some of the same side effects that they experienced in week one - though they may be milder as the body adjusts to the medication.”