Pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced Friday that Costco will begin selling monthly supplies of Ozempic and Wegovy for $499 to uninsured members.
The discounted price comes as more Americans have become aware of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, which have become increasingly popular as people have touted body transformations and health benefits.
The popularity of the medications amid shortages and high price tags led numerous people to turn to compounded versions of the drugs, sparking calls for federal regulation.
“We want to make sure we offer the real, authentic Wegovy and Ozempic where patients seek care,” David Moore, Nova Nordisk’s U.S. president, told NBC News.
Ozempic and Wegovy are injectable semaglutide medications used for weight loss and to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Semaglutide mimics a glucagon-like peptide 1, a hormone in the body that reduces appetite and stimulates insulin secretion. By suppressing appetite, the drug can help induce weight loss.
An August survey found that more than 80 percent of Americans had heard at least “a little bit” about semaglutide. It also found that about 1 in 3 Americans had either taken the drug or were interested in trying it.
About 25 percent of Americans expressed interest in taking semaglutide without consulting a physician, another survey found. Doctors have strongly advised against taking Ozempic, Wegovy, and other medications without consultation.
Though early research points at possibilities for using semaglutide to treat addiction and heart conditions, concerns about side effects — including nausea, diarrhea and constipation — persist.
Costco previously offered Ozempic to members through its pharmacies, though its prices ran much higher.
Beginning in April 2024, the company offered access to three-month prescriptions for Ozempic for $179. The price didn’t include the cost of the drug itself, which at the time could cost up to $1,600 a month for those without insurance.