Novo lowers the cash price of Ozempic to $499 a month

Novo Nordisk lowered the cost of Ozempic to $499 per month for self-paying patients, according to a company announcement dated August 18, 2025 and cataloged in Ozempic's development timeline ^[1]. The change targets people who buy the type 2 diabetes injection without using insurance.

Ozempic is the injectable form of semaglutide, first approved by the FDA on December 5, 2017 ^[1]. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog approved as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes, to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease, and to reduce the risk of sustained eGFR decline, end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular death in adults with type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease ^[1]. The kidney indication was added on January 28, 2025 ^[1].

The injection comes in three pens: 2 mg/3 mL (delivering 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg per injection), 4 mg/3 mL (delivering 1 mg), and 8 mg/3 mL (delivering 2 mg) ^[1]. It is given under the skin once weekly, at any time of day, with or without meals ^[1]. Semaglutide is also sold as Wegovy for weight reduction and cardiovascular risk reduction in obesity or overweight, and as an oral tablet ^[1].

What the sources do and do not say

The available source confirms the headline figure and the date, but it does not spell out the program's terms. It is not yet known from this source which Ozempic doses qualify for the $499 price, whether the price applies through a direct-to-consumer pharmacy or at retail counters, whether people with insurance that does not cover the drug can use it, or how long the price is guaranteed. The source also does not state the prior self-pay price or list price for comparison, so the size of the discount cannot be confirmed here.

Why it matters for patients

Many people with type 2 diabetes face coverage limits, high deductibles or outright denials for GLP-1 medicines, which pushes them into paying cash. A published self-pay price gives those patients a number they can plan around and compare against pharmacy quotes, telehealth offers and other GLP-1 options. It also gives a reference point when weighing the risks of unapproved or counterfeit products; Novo Nordisk warned consumers about counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg in the US in an April 14, 2025 notice ^[1].

Price is only one part of the decision. Ozempic carries a Boxed Warning for thyroid C-cell tumors, and its warnings and precautions include acute pancreatitis, diabetic retinopathy complications, low blood sugar, acute kidney injury from volume depletion, severe gastrointestinal reactions, serious allergic reactions, gallbladder disease, and pulmonary aspiration during general anesthesia or deep sedation ^[1]. The most common side effects reported in at least 5% of patients taking the injection are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation ^[1]. Those trade-offs are a conversation for a clinician, not a pricing page.

What happens next

The same development timeline shows the cash-price move was not the last change to semaglutide pricing or supply. On February 4, 2026, Novo Nordisk introduced an Ozempic pill, with US availability stated for the second quarter of 2026 ^[1]. On February 24, 2026, the company announced a significant reduction in the US list price for Wegovy, Ozempic and Rybelsus ^[1]. On March 9, 2026, it said it was expanding US access to FDA-approved semaglutide medicines through Hims & Hers ^[1]. The terms and patient eligibility for each of those steps are not detailed in this source.