Americans starting weight-loss drugs show interest in lower-cost oral options
Doctors said Americans starting obesity treatment are showing interest in oral GLP-1 drugs because of lower cost and convenience. Novo’s oral Wegovy and Lilly’s Foundayo are priced below injectable options.
Americans starting weight-loss medicines for the first time want lower cost and greater convenience as they consider pills from Novo Nordisk or Eli Lilly, according to seven doctors who specialize in obesity. Novo’s Wegovy pill has been on the market since January, while Lilly’s Foundayo joins the fray this week.
The doctors said the oral version has appealed to patients for its lower cost and ease. The pills do not need refrigeration, are more discreet and do not require the use of needles, and most patients receiving prescriptions are taking a GLP-1 for the first time rather than switching from injectables.
All seven doctors said they had begun prescribing oral Wegovy, and three said they have prescribed the pill to about 10% of their patients. If patients are tolerating an injectable GLP-1, doctors are reluctant to switch them to pills unless requested.
Zepbound, with the active ingredient tirzepatide, has been shown in trials to reduce weight by some 20% or more, making it the preferred option for treating patients with severe obesity, especially those with more complex cases, doctors said. In trials, Foundayo led to a 12% reduction in body weight and oral Wegovy led to about a 14% reduction.
Several of the doctors said they were eager for Lilly’s pill, chemically known as orforglipron, to be approved so they would have a more flexible option to present to patients. Oral Wegovy must be taken on an empty stomach with just a sip of water 30 minutes before any other medications or food and drink, while Lilly’s Foundayo can be taken any time of day without food or water restrictions.
The self-pay price for both oral Wegovy and Foundayo starts at $149 per month for the lowest dose, compared to $299 for Zepbound and $349 for Ozempic and injectable Wegovy. When covered, out-of-pocket costs could be as little as $25 or $50 per month, though doctors said they spend significant time discussing with patients how to afford the drugs.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched injectable Wegovy in 2021. The pill, like injectable Wegovy and Ozempic for diabetes, has the active ingredient semaglutide. Semaglutide has also been found in trials to have other health benefits like reducing cardiovascular risks, while Lilly said it is still studying Foundayo and that many participants in its clinical trial saw some reduction in markers of cardiovascular risk.