Get All Access for $5/mo

Popular Appetite Suppressant Ozempic Can Be Made For Less Than $5 a Month, New Research Suggests The $5 includes a profit margin.

By Sherin Shibu

Key Takeaways

  • Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk A/S charges almost $1,000 per month for the drug in the U.S.
  • A recent study suggests that the price could be lowered to a fraction of the current cost, while still bringing in revenue.
  • Ozempic sales brought in more than $13 billion last year, according to figures reported in the company's 2023 annual report.

Ozempic, the appetite-suppressing injection also known as semaglutide, currently costs $935.77 in the U.S. without insurance. But a new research report from Yale University, King's College Hospital in London, and Doctors Without Borders published in JAMA Network Open Wednesday suggests that the price of the prescription drug could be lowered to a fraction of what it is right now, while still generating a profit.

The researchers calculated cost-based prices for one month of Ozempic, administered as an injectable of 0.77 mg weekly, by combining commercial trade shipment data from January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2023 with the cost of creating the drug, other operating expenses, a profit margin, and tax. They found that the cost-based prices of Ozempic ranged from $0.89 to $4.73 per month.

"The findings of this study suggest that insulins, SGLT2Is, and GLP1As can likely be manufactured for prices far below current prices, enabling wider access," the researchers wrote.

A pharmacist holds a box of Novo Nordisk A/S Ozempic brand semaglutide medication. Photographer: George Frey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Ozempic costs less outside of the U.S. — a Bloomberg report found that a month's supply of the injectable costs under $300 in Mexico.

"Outside the US, countries have different regulatory requirements with regard to the pricing of medicines, including negotiating with respective government entities," Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk told Bloomberg.

Related: FDA Has Seized 'Thousands' of Fake Units of Ozempic Amid Reported Cases of 'Adverse Reactions' in Patients

Drug markups have long come under national scrutiny, with Martin Shkreli, the former head of Turing Pharmaceuticals, forced to pay $64 million in 2022 after inflating the price of a life-saving drug by 4,000%.

Ozempic falls under the category of a GLP-1 drug, meaning that it addresses type 2 diabetes by improving blood sugar control and also potentially leading to weight loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Prescriptions of GLP-1 drugs increased by 300% between 2020 and 2022, Trilliant Health researchers found. Ozempic first made headlines in 2021 when it was featured on the Dr. Oz Show.

Related: Novo Nordisk, the Maker of Ozempic, Is Suing Spas and Clinics For Allegedly Selling Knockoffs

Ozempic and other similar drugs could cause an average weight loss of 15% to 20%, "significantly higher than previous options," as per Columbia Surgery.

The same publication warns of the life-long commitment Ozempic requires, as discontinuing the drug could lead to gaining all of the weight back. The drug could also cause nausea, cramps, and other unpleasant side effects.

Despite the high cost and potential downsides, Ozempic skyrocketed in popularity last year, with 66% of its more than $13 billion sales coming from the US, according to Novo Nordisk's 2023 annual report.

Related: Novo Nordisk Is Worth More Than Denmark's GDP Thanks to America's Ozempic and Wegovy Craze

Sherin Shibu

Entrepreneur Staff

News Reporter

Sherin Shibu is a business news reporter at Entrepreneur.com. She previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. Her areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. She is a Columbia University graduate.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Business News

Former Steve Jobs Intern Says This Is How He Would Have Approached AI

The former intern is now the CEO of AI and data company DataStax.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.