Report: Newer weight loss drugs cost more in the US compared to other countries.

An analysis by KFF reveals that drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro are priced significantly higher in the U.S. compared to other affluent nations. In some countries, the list price is only 10% of what it is in the U.S.

KFF’s analysis found that the list price for a one-month supply of Ozempic, which is primarily used for diabetes but sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss, is $936 in the U.S. In the nine other countries studied, none paid more than $200 for the same drug.

The cost of a one-month supply of Rybelsus, an oral form of the same drug as Ozempic, is also $936. The Netherlands is the second-highest paying country at $203 for a one-month supply.

The countries included in the analysis were the Netherlands, Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

Wegovy, indicated for weight loss, is currently only available in three of the countries mentioned. When comparing the U.S. to the two other countries where Wegovy is available, the U.S. pays about four times more.

Note that the list price is set by the manufacturer and may not represent what consumers actually pay. For example, U.S. patients can potentially obtain a 28-day supply of Wegovy for as low as $225 per year with a coupon if their health insurance covers the drug, according to KFF.

Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus are all brand names for semaglutide, produced by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. Semaglutide mimics the hormone GLP-1, which is released in response to food intake, stimulating insulin production and suppressing appetite.

The KFF analysis notes, “What impact these drugs have on total health costs in a country will depend not just on the net prices for the drugs, but also on how many people use them.” The U.S. has the highest rate of obesity among peer nations, with one-third of adults (33.6%) being obese, compared to an average of 17.1% in other nations.

Previous polls conducted by KFF indicated that nearly half of U.S. adults expressed interest in taking a weight loss drug if it was deemed safe and effective. However, the main challenge lies in getting insurance coverage for these expensive drugs.

While interest in newer weight loss medications is on the rise, so is awareness of potential side effects. Recent attention has been given to the possibility of “stomach paralysis” as a side effect of Ozempic and Wegovy, which disrupts the digestive process by preventing the stomach from processing or emptying food.

Weight loss medications are often not covered by insurance companies, as obesity is often considered a cosmetic issue rather than a disease. However, there is a growing interest in expanding coverage for these drugs.

Last month, a group of lawmakers reintroduced the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, which aims to expand Medicare coverage to include weight loss services and medications like Wegovy. Novo Nordisk is among the organizations that support this legislation.

Supporters of the bill argue that obesity should be treated as a chronic illness, similar to other conditions that are typically covered.