In 2026, there will be a significant decrease in the prices of weight loss drugs, especially semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic), due to the expiration of patents in countries such as China, India, Brazil and Canada.[1][4][5] Annual treatment with semaglutide today costs several thousand dollars, which most of the more than one billion people with obesity cannot afford; in the US, only 3 percent of potential patients use them.[1] On January 5, 2026, Novo Nordisk launched the Wegovy pill with semaglutide in doses of 1.5 mg and 4 mg for $149 per month for out-of-pocket patients.[2] Higher doses of 9 mg and 25 mg cost $299 per month, with the 4 mg version rising to $199 starting April 15.[2] Eli Lilly's orforglipron tablet, which acts on the GLP-1 hormone, reduces appetite, is cheaper to manufacture than injections, but less effective, is pending approval.[1][4] Novo Nordisk is planning its own semaglutide pill, which is less effective than injections but more convenient.[4] In 2025, Novo Nordisk earned $19 billion from Ozempic and $9 billion from Wego globally.[5]