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GLP-1 Decoder

Every GLP-1 Compared: Price, Weight Loss, Side Effects

    GLP-1 medicines mimic a gut hormone that brings down blood sugar and appetite. They are used for type 2 diabetes and obesity, and some lower heart risk. Each FDA-approved drug appears here with its price, the weight loss seen in trials, and the side effect that shows up most often.

    Find the one that fits your needs

    Compare two drugs side by side

    Choose a goal, a form, and a way to pay. The cards sort again by monthly price.

    Daily pill

    Wegovy pill

    semaglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $149a month5
    Paying cash, the lowest self-pay price for a month (NovoCare, pill 1.5 mg).
    Trial weight loss
    13.6%22
    OASIS 4, 64 weeks: body weight, placebo 2.4%.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 1 week22
    • Main side effectIdentical to the pen, mainly nausea22
    • Self-pay $149
    • TrumpRx $149
    • Insured from $25
    • Medicare $50
    • List $1,349.02
    Daily pill

    Rybelsus

    semaglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $149a month1
    Paying cash, the lowest self-pay price for a month (NovoCare, Ozempic pill, which replaces Rybelsus).
    Trial weight loss
    3.7 kg23
    Weight lost in PIONEER 1, for type 2 diabetes over 26 weeks, with placebo at -1.4 kg.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 1 week23
    • Main side effect
      For nausea: 20% at 14 mg, placebo 6%23
    • Self-pay $149
    • Insured from $25
    • List $1,027.51
    Daily pill

    Foundayo

    orforglipron · Eli Lilly

    Your cost
    $149a month15
    Paying cash, the lowest self-pay price for a month (LillyDirect, 0.8 mg as well as 2.5 mg).
    Trial weight loss
    11.1%24
    of body weight lost during ATTAIN-1, 72 weeks. Placebo: 2.1%.
    • Half-life of the drug29 to 49 hours24
    • Main side effect
      For nausea: 35% at 17.2 mg, placebo 10%24
    • Self-pay $149
    • Insured from $25
    • Medicare $50
    • List $649
    Weekly pen

    Ozempic

    semaglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $199a month1
    The lowest monthly self-pay price if you pay cash (NovoCare, pen intro for the first 2 fills: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg).
    Trial weight loss
    4.7 kg25
    Weight lost in SUSTAIN 1, a type 2 diabetes trial of 30 weeks, placebo -1.2 kg.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 1 week25
    • Main side effect
      For nausea: 20.3% at 1 mg, placebo 6.1%25
    • Self-pay $199
    • TrumpRx $199
    • Insured from $25
    • List $1,027.51
    Weekly pen

    Wegovy pen

    semaglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $199a month4
    The lowest monthly self-pay price if you pay cash (NovoCare, pen intro for the first 2 fills: 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg).
    Trial weight loss
    14.9%22
    of body weight lost during STEP 1, 68 weeks. Placebo: 2.4%.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 1 week22
    • Main side effect
      For nausea: 44% at 2.4 mg, placebo 16%22
    • Self-pay $199
    • TrumpRx $199
    • Insured from $25
    • Medicare $50
    • List $1,349.02
    Weekly pen or vial

    Zepbound

    tirzepatide · Eli Lilly

    Your cost
    $299a month12
    The lowest monthly self-pay price if you pay cash (LillyDirect, a vial or the KwikPen 2.5 mg).
    Trial weight loss
    20.9%26
    of body weight lost during SURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks. Placebo: 3.1%.
    • Half-life of the drug5 to 6 days26
    • Main side effect
      For nausea: 29% at 10 mg, placebo 8%26
    • Self-pay $299
    • TrumpRx $299
    • Insured from $25
    • Medicare $50
    • List $499 to $1,086
    Daily pen

    Victoza

    liraglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $543.51a month20
    Monthly list price, before any discount.
    Trial weight loss
    2.5 kg27
    Weight lost over 52 weeks in LEAD-3, type 2 diabetes; glimepiride +1.1 kg.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 13 hours27
    • Main side effect
      Nausea 20% at 1.8 mg, placebo 5%27
    • List $543.51
    Weekly pen

    Trulicity

    dulaglutide · Eli Lilly

    Your cost
    $1,006.93a month19
    Monthly list price, before any discount.
    Trial weight loss
    4.6 kg28
    Weight lost over 36 weeks in AWARD-11, type 2 diabetes; Dulaglutide 4.5 mg weekly.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 5 days29
    • Main side effect
      Nausea 21.1% at 1.5 mg, placebo 5.3%29
    • Insured from $25
    • List $1,006.93
    Weekly pen

    Mounjaro

    tirzepatide · Eli Lilly

    Your cost
    $1,112.16a month11
    Monthly list price, before any discount.
    Trial weight loss
    7.8 kg30
    Weight lost over 40 weeks in SURPASS-1, type 2 diabetes; placebo -1.0 kg.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 5 days30
    • Main side effect
      Nausea 18% at 15 mg, placebo 4%30
    • Insured from $25
    • Not covered $499
    • Medicare $0 to $50
    • List $1,112.16
    Daily pen

    Saxenda

    liraglutide · Novo Nordisk

    Your cost
    $1,349.02a month21
    Monthly list price, before any discount.
    Trial weight loss
    7.4%31
    of body weight lost during SCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks. Placebo: 3%.
    • Half-life of the drugabout 13 hours31
    • Main side effect
      Nausea 39.3%31 Saxenda, placebo 13.8%
    • List $1,349.02

    Complete comparison table

    All the FDA-approved GLP-1 drugs sold in the US, sorted by lowest self-pay price
    MedicineFormFDA-approved forWeight loss in trialsMost common side effectPrice a month
    Wegovy pill semaglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Daily pillWeight loss, Heart risk, MASH liver diseaseOASIS 4, 64 weeks: 13.6% of body weight; placebo 2.4%22Identical to the pen, mainly nausea22
    Self-pay $149 NovoCare, pill 1.5 mg5
    Other ways to pay
    • TrumpRx $149 a month for the pill, starting dose2
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card5
    • Medicare $50 through GLP-1 Bridge, for weight loss use6
    • List $1,349.02 per month7
    Rybelsus semaglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Daily pillType 2 diabetes, Heart riskPIONEER 1 trial, type 2 diabetes, 26 weeks: 3.7 kg lost; the placebo group was -1.4 kg23Nausea 20% 14 mg, placebo 6%23
    Self-pay $149 NovoCare, Ozempic pill, which replaces Rybelsus1
    Other ways to pay
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card8
    • List $1,027.51 per 30 tablets9
    Foundayo orforglipron, Eli Lilly
    		Daily pillWeight lossATTAIN-1, 72 weeks: 11.1% of body weight; placebo 2.1%24Nausea 35% 17.2 mg, placebo 10%24
    Self-pay $149 LillyDirect, 0.8 mg and 2.5 mg15
    Other ways to pay
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card16
    • Medicare $50 through GLP-1 Bridge, for weight loss use16
    • List $649 per month17
    Ozempic semaglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Weekly penType 2 diabetes, Heart risk, Kidney disease when you have type 2 diabetesSUSTAIN 1 trial, type 2 diabetes, 30 weeks: 4.7 kg lost; the placebo group was -1.2 kg25Nausea 20.3% 1 mg, placebo 6.1%25
    Self-pay $199 NovoCare, pen intro (first 2 fills, 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg)1
    Other ways to pay
    • TrumpRx $199 monthly, pen, starting dose2
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card1
    • List $1,027.51 per pen3
    Wegovy pen semaglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Weekly penWeight loss, Heart risk, MASH liver diseaseSTEP 1, 68 weeks: 14.9% of body weight; placebo 2.4%22Nausea 44% 2.4 mg, placebo 16%22
    Self-pay $199 NovoCare, pen intro (first 2 fills, 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg)4
    Other ways to pay
    • TrumpRx $199 monthly, pen, starting dose2
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card5
    • Medicare $50 through GLP-1 Bridge, for weight loss use6
    • List $1,349.02 per month7
    Zepbound tirzepatide, Eli Lilly
    		Weekly pen or vialWeight loss, Sleep apneaSURMOUNT-1, 72 weeks: 20.9% of body weight; placebo 3.1%26Nausea 29% 10 mg, placebo 8%26
    Self-pay $299 LillyDirect, vial or KwikPen 2.5 mg12
    Other ways to pay
    • TrumpRx $299 monthly, vial, starting dose2
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card13
    • Medicare $50 through GLP-1 Bridge, for weight loss use13
    • List price $499 to $1,086 per fill14
    Victoza liraglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Daily penType 2 diabetes, Heart riskLEAD-3 trial, type 2 diabetes, for 52 weeks: 2.5 kg lost; glimepiride +1.1 kg27Nausea 20% 1.8 mg, placebo 5%27
    List $543.51 per 2 pens20
    Trulicity dulaglutide, Eli Lilly
    		Weekly penType 2 diabetes, Heart riskAWARD-11 trial, type 2 diabetes, for 36 weeks: 4.6 kg lost; Dulaglutide 4.5 mg weekly28Nausea 21.1% 1.5 mg, placebo 5.3%29
    List $1,006.93 per fill19
    Other ways to pay
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card18
    Mounjaro tirzepatide, Eli Lilly
    		Weekly penType 2 diabetes, Heart riskSURPASS-1 trial, type 2 diabetes, for 40 weeks: 7.8 kg lost; the placebo group was -1.0 kg30Nausea 18% 15 mg, placebo 4%30
    List $1,112.16 per fill11
    Other ways to pay
    • Your plan must cover it: insured from $25 with a savings card10
    • If your plan does not cover it, $499 with a savings card10
    • $0 to $50 under Medicare Part D for about 8 out of 10 people10
    Saxenda liraglutide, Novo Nordisk
    		Daily penWeight lossSCALE Obesity and Prediabetes, 56 weeks: 7.4% of body weight, placebo 3%31Nausea 39.3% Saxenda, placebo 13.8%31
    List $1,349.02 per 5 pens21

    Sources

    1. NovoCare
    2. TrumpRx
    3. Novo Nordisk pricing
    4. NovoCare
    5. NovoCare
    6. medicare.gov
    7. TrumpRx
    8. rybelsus.com
    9. Novo Nordisk pricing
    10. mounjaro.lilly.com
    11. pricinginfo.lilly.com
    12. Eli Lilly
    13. zepbound.lilly.com
    14. pricinginfo.lilly.com
    15. Eli Lilly
    16. foundayo.lilly.com
    17. pricinginfo.lilly.com
    18. trulicity.lilly.com
    19. pricinginfo.lilly.com
    20. Novo Nordisk pricing
    21. Novo Nordisk pricing
    22. FDA label (DailyMed)
    23. FDA label (DailyMed)
    24. FDA label (DailyMed)
    25. FDA label (DailyMed)
    26. FDA label (DailyMed)
    27. FDA label (DailyMed)
    28. PubMed
    29. FDA label (DailyMed)
    30. FDA label (DailyMed)
    31. FDA label (DailyMed)

    Manufacturers, TrumpRx and Medicare publish these prices; what you pay at your pharmacy and with your plan may differ. On Oct. 25, 2024, Byetta (exenatide, AstraZeneca) was pulled from the US market, per uhcprovider.com. Price history · Price per mg · Side effects by drug

    Numbers side by side

    How long each drug stays in your body
    Wegovy7 dOzempic7 dRybelsus7 dZepbound5.5 dMounjaro5 dTrulicity5 dFoundayo1.6 dSaxenda0.5 dVictoza0.5 dByetta0.1 d

    In days, half-life means the time before your body has cleared half of one dose. Each FDA label gives this in section 12.3.

    Weight loss in the main weight trial for each drug
    Zepbound20.9%Wegovy14.9%Foundayo11.1%Saxenda7.4%

    Percentage of body weight. Trials, doses and lengths differ, so compare each number with the placebo result on that medicine's own page.

    Sources (10)

    FDA label on DailyMed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

    New GLP-1 medicines on the way

    CagrilintideUnder FDA reviewEloralintideNot approvedSurvodutideNot approvedMetsera After the Pfizer DealNot approved

    Every new GLP-1 drug in one table

    Begin where you are

    Concerned about a side effect

    What the label shows, how long it lasts, when to call.

    Choosing a medicine

    Trials that compare drugs side by side, the forms available, and who each drug fits.

    Figuring out the cost

    All the payment options, coverage rules and savings programs.

    How GLP-1 medicines work

    After you eat, your gut releases a hormone called GLP-1. The pancreas is told to release insulin, the stomach empties more slowly, and the brain receives a fullness signal. These medicines are called GLP-1 receptor agonists. They copy the hormone and last far longer. Tirzepatide and orforglipron act on that same receptor, and tirzepatide also works on a second hormone, GIP.

    GLP-1 medicines compared: a weekly pen, a daily pill and a vial

    Tables to download and cite