Novo Philippines lowers prices amid rising obesity burden

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly one in two Filipino adults is overweight or obese.

Addressing this burden requires medical assessment, appropriate treatment and ongoing support. For patients, prescribed medication, cost and consistent access to treatment are key factors.

Against this backdrop, Novo Nordisk Philippines has announced lower suggested retail prices for the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg strengths of its once-weekly semaglutide formulation for weight management.

Semaglutide (Wegovy®) is a prescription medicine indicated for weight management in eligible patients, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The new suggested retail price for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg strengths is P8,188 per pen, down from P9,900, a reduction of approximately 17 percent. The price for the 1.0 mg strength is P9,279 per pen, down from P9,900, a reduction of approximately six percent. Each pen contains four doses of its labelled strength, providing four weeks of treatment when used once weekly as prescribed.

Eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities receive a further 20 percent discount, bringing the prices to P6,550 per pen for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg strengths and P7,423 per pen for the 1.0 mg strength.

“Medicine costs are one part of the access challenge,” said Wei Sun, general manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines. “Reliable availability, appropriate prescribing and ongoing medical support also matter. The price adjustment should be understood as one step within that broader need.”

The price adjustment complements Novo Nordisk Philippines’ Live Lighter™ campaign, which aims to raise awareness of obesity as a disease and encourage Filipinos to seek appropriate medical guidance.