Wegovy vs Ozempic: Dose, Weight Loss
Wegovy and Ozempic contain the same medicine, semaglutide, from Novo Nordisk, but carry different approvals: Wegovy for weight loss, heart risk and MASH liver disease, Ozempic for heart risk and type 2 diabetes, plus kidney disease that affects people with type 2 diabetes. Self-pay starts at $149 per month and $199 per month.
A quick look at Wegovy and Ozempic
A side-by-side comparison of Wegovy and Ozempic
| Wegovy | Ozempic | |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Wegovy |  Ozempic |
| Active ingredient | semaglutide | semaglutide |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Novo Nordisk |
| How it is taken | Weekly injection or daily tablet | Weekly injection |
| Approved for | Weight loss, heart risk and MASH liver disease | Heart risk and type 2 diabetes, plus kidney disease that affects people with type 2 diabetes |
| First FDA approval | 2021 | 2017 |
| Average weight loss in trials | 14.9% (STEP 1, 68 weeks) | Not listed |
| Most common side effect | Nausea 44% vs 16% on placebo | Nausea 20.3% vs 6.1% on placebo |
| List price | $1,349.02 per month | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Self-pay from | $149 per month | $199 per month |
| Medicare GLP-1 Bridge | $50 per month, eligible Part D | Not listed |
| FDA shortage | Resolved February 21, 2025 | Resolved February 21, 2025 |
Sources: FDA label, FDA label (DailyMed), TrumpRx, Novo Nordisk pricing.
Weight loss compared
The drugs have not faced a head-to-head trial, so these results come from separate trials with different people and lengths.
| Trial | Who took part | Length | Group | Average weight loss | Placebo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OASIS 4 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 64 weeks | Wegovy pill 25 mg daily | 13.6% | 2.4% |
| STEP 1 | Adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes | 68 weeks | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 14.9% | 2.4% |
| STEP 2 | Adults who have type 2 diabetes and also have obesity or are overweight | 68 weeks | Semaglutide 2.4 mg weekly | 9.6% | 3.4% |
Trial sources: OASIS 4 (FDA label (DailyMed)), STEP 2 (PubMed), STEP TEENS (PubMed).
Side effects compared
For each label, participants were tested against a placebo group for the same drug.
| Side effect | Wegovy | Placebo (Wegovy trials) | Ozempic | Placebo (Ozempic trials) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nausea | 44% | 16% | 20.3% | 6.1% |
| Diarrhea | 30% | 16% | 8.8% | 1.9% |
| Vomiting | 24% | 6% | 9.2% | 2.3% |
| Constipation | 24% | 11% | 5% | 1.5% |
| Abdominal Pain | 20% | 10% | 7.3% | 4.6% |
| Headache | 14% | 10% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Fatigue | 11% | 5% | Not listed | Not listed |
| Dyspepsia | 9% | 3% | Not listed | Not listed |
Prices and coverage compared
| Medicine | How you pay | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Wegovy | List price before insurance | $1,349.02 per month |
| Wegovy | Wegovy Savings Offer (insured) | from $25 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 1.5 mg | $149 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 4 mg | $199 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pill 9 mg and 25 mg | $299 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay for an intro Wegovy pen: 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses, with 2 fills to start | $199 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy pen 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg | $349 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay: Wegovy HD 7.2 mg pen | $399 per month |
| Wegovy | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $149 per month |
| Wegovy | Medicare GLP-1 Bridge (Wegovy, eligible Part D) | $50 per month |
| Ozempic | List price before insurance | $1,027.51 per pen |
| Ozempic | Ozempic Savings Offer (insured) | the monthly price begins at $25, for up to 3 months |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pill (from 1.5 mg) | $149 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay for an intro Ozempic pen: 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg doses, with 2 fills to start | $199 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pens in 1 mg, 0.5 mg, and 0.25 mg doses | $349 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay: Ozempic pen 2 mg | $499 per month |
| Ozempic | Self-pay via TrumpRx | $199 per month |
Who should pick which?
- Only Wegovy is approved for weight loss in people without diabetes.
- Only Ozempic is approved for type 2 diabetes.
- Ozempic is approved for kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.
- Wegovy is approved for MASH liver disease.
- Wegovy is approved for some children under 18.
- Under Medicare, Wegovy appears on the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge list.
- For Wegovy, cash prices start at $149 per month, which is lower.
Your prescriber reviews your health history, other medicines, and coverage, then decides whether to switch you between them.