Wegovy Now Available Through Sesame's $249 Monthly Compounded Program Despite Supply Shortages

Healthcare platform Sesame announced a new weight loss program offering compounded versions of Novo Nordisk A/S's NVO blockbuster drug Wegovy for $249 per month.

The program aims to make obesity and diabetes treatments more accessible, addressing supply shortages of popular medications like Wegovy and Ozempic by providing lower-cost compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in these drugs.

Also Read: Ozempic And Wegovy Linked to Increased Suicidal Thoughts In Observational Study, But Results Are Contested.

The company's platform allows patients to book and pay for appointments directly with doctors and specialists, bypassing insurers. Sesame already offers branded weight loss and diabetes treatments, including through a partnership with Costco Wholesale Corporation COST.

However, the introduction of compounded medications provides a more affordable alternative, given that brand-name drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic can cost around $1,000 per month before insurance coverage.

Supply shortages have become a critical challenge for Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly And Co LLY, leading to the offering of compounded versions when brand-name supplies dwindle.

Compounded medications, tailored to individual patient needs, are governed under specific FDA regulations.

The CNBC report added that Sesame has partnered with a 503B compounding pharmacy that produces prefilled, single-use syringes, a move designed to reduce risks associated with improper dosing.

Michael Botta, president and co-founder of Sesame, told CNBC in an interview that Sesame initially hesitated to offer compounded medications due to concerns about quality, but after inspecting the processes of its pharmacy partner, the company became confident in the safety and effectiveness of the treatments.

Price Action: NVO stock is down 1.26% at $134.10 at last check Wednesday.

Read Next:

• Eli Lilly’s Famed Obesity/Diabetes Treatment Tirzepatide Shows Potential To Cut Risk Of Developing Diabetes, Sustained Weight Loss Over 3 Years.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo:Tobias Arhelger/Shutterstock.com