Reducing the cost of insulin in the US was a great achievement, but we have to, in Bidenspeak, “Finish the job.” Ozempic and other brands of semaglutide cost five times as much in the US as in other countries, or more. Novo Nordisk researchers are serious about finding ways to help diabetics, but their sales department is as greedy as the rest of Big Pharma. The other makers of semaglutide products are equally greedy, but less effective in selling around the world.
How do prices of drugs for weight loss in the U.S. compare to peer nations’ prices?
List prices of drugs used for weight loss semaglutide in the U.S. and peer nations
Ozempic | Rybelsus | Wegovy | Mounjaro | |
| U.S. | $936 | $936 | $1,349 | $1,023 |
| Japan | $169 | $69 | - | $319 |
| Canada | $147 | $158 | - | - |
| Switzerland | $144 | $147 | - | - |
| Germany | $103 | - | $328 | - |
| Netherlands | $103 | $203 | $296 | $444 |
| Sweden | $96 | $103 | - | - |
| United Kingdom | $93 | - | - | - |
| Australia | $87 | - | - | - |
| France | $83 | - | - | - |
Note: List prices in $USD based on web searches as of August 15, 2023. Prices are for one-month supply of Ozempic 1mg, Rybelus 7mg, Wegovy 2.4mg, and Mounjaro 15mg. Some drugs are not available in all countries and prices were unable to be found in other countries. Some drugs are approved for diabetes and prescribed off-label for weight loss.
Those are prices for a three-month supply.