January 5, 2026
Pill wars: hot takes at aisle 5
Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy weight-loss pill in US, triggering price war
Cheaper, needle‑free, but commenters say it’s weaker and still pricey—plus a TrumpRx cameo
TLDR: Novo Nordisk launched the first daily GLP‑1 weight‑loss pill in the US at $149/month, kicking off a price war. Commenters split: some say it’s weaker than Lilly’s drugs, others demand insurers fund it, and skeptics blast pricing—while TrumpRx’s listing adds meme fuel and political spice.
Novo Nordisk just unleashed a once‑a‑day Wegovy pill at $149/month for the starter dose (as low as $25 with insurance), promising needle‑free weight loss and a full‑blown price war. It’s the first GLP‑1 pill — a class of drugs that curb appetite — now rolling out at 70,000 pharmacies, telehealth hubs like Weight Watchers, and yes, TrumpRx. Shares jumped over 4% on launch, but the company’s still bruised by Eli Lilly’s hot shots Zepbound and Mounjaro. And the comments? Absolute fireworks.
Critics pounced: wmf warned it’s “much less effective” than Zepbound and teased Lilly’s next‑gen “reta” pill as the real heavyweight. Policy wonks chimed in with CDC data showing severe obesity rising, asking how many people will actually get treated — and how many refuse. The money fight erupted: “Insurers should be paying people to take this,” argued jmward01, while wileydragonfly blasted the price as “still ridiculous” compared to dirt‑cheap “research chemical” versions, tossing in an AZT‑era markup jab.
Then came the culture war: A_Duck warned cheap GLP‑1s could let ultra‑processed food makers off the hook while risks like diabetes and gut issues keep simmering. Meanwhile, meme lords reveled in the TrumpRx listing (“Make Weight Loss Great Again”) and Costco pharmacy one‑liners. Verdict: price war heat, efficacy beef, and insurance drama — this pill’s debut is reality TV for weight loss.
Key Points
- •Novo Nordisk launched a once-daily Wegovy GLP-1 weight-loss pill in the US at lower cash prices than injections.
- •Starting dose costs $149/month ($5/day) for cash payers; insured patients pay from $25/month.
- •4mg dose is $149/month until April 15, then $199; highest doses are $299/month.
- •The pill is available at 70,000+ US pharmacies (CVS, Costco) and via telehealth providers (Ro, LifeMD, Weight Watchers); higher doses roll out later this week.
- •UK approval is under review; Eli Lilly is developing an anti-obesity pill with planned cash caps at $399 for higher doses.