GLP-1 prices in 2026: what actually changed

If you looked at GLP-1 prices a year ago, almost everything you learned is now out of date. Brand-name medicines have fallen sharply, compounded copies are under threat, and two new pills have changed what a starting dose costs. Here is what changed by September 2026, with dates and sources for every figure.

Brand-name prices fell below most compounded programmes

Self-pay prices from the manufacturers now start at $149 a month for the Wegovy pill and $299 a month for Zepbound at the starting dose through LillyDirect. Zepbound rises to $449 a month at 7.5 to 15 mg, and missing the 45-day refill window pushes higher doses up to $499 to $699. Wegovy injections through NovoCare are $199 a month for the first two fills, then $349.

That matters because many compounded programmes charge $200 to $300 a month once a membership fee is added. For a large number of people, the FDA-approved medicine is now the cheaper option, which was not true in 2024.

Two pills arrived

Oral semaglutide, sold as the Wegovy pill, was approved on December 22, 2025. Foundayo (orforglipron), the first oral small-molecule GLP-1, followed on April 1, 2026, and can be taken at any time of day with no food or water restrictions. In its ATTAIN-1 trial, people on the highest dose who stayed on treatment lost an average of 27.3 pounds, about 12.4% of body weight, at 72 weeks, compared with 2.2 pounds on placebo. Both start at $149 a month self-pay.

Compounded GLP-1s are running out of road

The FDA removed tirzepatide from its shortage list in December 2024 and semaglutide in February 2025, which ended the legal basis for large-scale compounding. On April 30, 2026, the agency proposed barring semaglutide, tirzepatide and liraglutide from the 503B bulks list, saying there is no clinical need to compound them from bulk substances.

Enforcement followed. The FDA sent 55 warning letters to telehealth companies in 2026, 30 in March and 25 in June, mostly over claims that compounded copies are the same as approved medicines. If you are on a compounded plan, ask your provider what happens to your prescription if the rule is finalised.

Medicare and government pricing

From July 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge caps eligible Part D members at $50 a month for Foundayo and Wegovy formulations and the Zepbound KwikPen, with prior authorisation. Separately, TrumpRx lists Ozempic and Wegovy at about $350 and Zepbound and orforglipron at about $346.

What this means if you are choosing now

Check the manufacturer price first, because LillyDirect and NovoCare charge no membership fee. If you want help with insurance, compare programmes that bill it, since that is where the biggest savings are. If you are considering a compounded plan, weigh the price against the risk that it becomes unavailable, and remember compounded medicines are not FDA-approved.

All prices on TirzaSema show the date we checked them. See our brand reviews for current all-in costs, or the comparison tool to put two programmes side by side.