Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: A Bargain or Too Expensive?

While Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have gained attention for their significant weight loss effects, the drugs’ domestic cost has raised some eyebrows.
Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro: A Bargain or Too Expensive?
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While Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have gained attention for their significant weight loss effects, the drugs’ domestic cost has raised some eyebrows.

Some factors make this class of drugs more affordable, according to a new report from the American Economic Institute (AEI). However, the AEI report doesn’t consider what people in other developed nations pay. So are these weight loss drugs a bargain for Americans or unnecessarily expensive?

High Costs Remain for Obesity Drugs Despite Insurance

These are the estimated current monthly prices of semaglutide and the related drug tirzepatide, according to the AEI report:
  • $936 for Ozempic or Rybelsus (semaglutide).
  • $936 Rybelsus (semaglutide).
  • $1,023 for Mounjaro (tirzepatide).
  • $1,349 for Wegovy (semaglutide).
However, these prices are significantly lower with insurance coverage and manufacturer rebates or coupons. With these savings, the monthly cost drops but remains high overall.
George Citroner
George Citroner
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George Citroner reports on health and medicine, covering topics that include cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative conditions. He was awarded the Media Orthopaedic Reporting Excellence (MORE) award in 2020 for a story on osteoporosis risk in men.
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