GLP-1 price index, October 2026: $399 a month, -20% since March 2025
The GLP Observer Self-Pay Index averages what the manufacturers charge cash payers for a maintenance dose of Zepbound (10 mg) and Wegovy (2.4 mg). It stood at $399 a month on October 19, 2026, down from $499 in March 2025, after Novo’s November 2025 and Lilly’s December 2025 price cuts.
Self-pay price per month. Steps begin on the date a manufacturer announced the price and are carried forward to our latest check; we do not interpolate.
What was the index each month?
| Month | Zepbound 10 mg | Wegovy 2.4 mg | Index | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | observed |
| Sep 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Aug 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Jul 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Jun 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| May 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Apr 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Mar 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Feb 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Jan 2026 | $449 | $349 | $399 | reconstructed |
| Dec 2025 | $449 | $349 | $399 ▼ $25 | reconstructed |
| Nov 2025 | $499 | $349 | $424 ▼ $75 | reconstructed |
| Oct 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Sep 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Aug 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Jul 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Jun 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| May 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Apr 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
| Mar 2025 | $499 | $499 | $499 | reconstructed |
How has each tracked price changed?
How is the index built?
Inputs: Zepbound 10 mg on-time-refill price (introduced at $499 on February 25, 2025 [1], cut to $449 on December 1, 2025 [4]) and Wegovy 2.4 mg standard self-pay price ($499 from March 5, 2025 [2], $349 from November 17, 2025 [3]). Both were confirmed on the live pages on October 19, 2026 [5] [6].
Index = (Zepbound 10 mg + Wegovy 2.4 mg) ÷ 2, using the price in effect on the last day of each month. It ignores intro offers, insurance and telehealth membership fees. The index starts in March 2025, the first month both inputs existed. It is a price tracker, not a statement that the two drugs are interchangeable.
Questions people ask
What is the GLP Observer Self-Pay Index?
The simple average of two manufacturer self-pay prices at month-end: Zepbound 10 mg on LillyDirect (on-time-refill price) and Wegovy 2.4 mg on NovoCare (standard price). It tracks the cash cost of a maintenance-dose brand-name GLP-1.
Why only two drugs?
They are the two injectable obesity GLP-1s with a direct manufacturer self-pay price going back to early 2025, so the series is comparable over time. Other prices are tracked on each drug page.
Are past months observed?
No. Months before Oct 2026 are reconstructed from dated manufacturer announcements, carrying each price forward until the next announcement. Oct 2026 is our own check of the live pages.
Can I use the data?
Yes. Download the CSV or JSON. Please cite GLP Observer and link to this page.
Sources
Every price above links to one of these pages. We loaded each one and saved a copy on the date shown.
- Lilly launches additional Zepbound vial doses and offers new savings for self-pay patients . Eli Lilly and Company, published Feb 25, 2025. Checked .https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-launches-additional-zepbound-vial-doses-and-offers-new
- Novo Nordisk introduces NovoCare Pharmacy, lowering cost of all doses of Wegovy to $499 per month . Novo Nordisk (via PR Newswire), published Mar 5, 2025. Checked .https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-introduces-novocare-pharmacy-lowering-cost-of-all-doses-of-fda-approved-wegovy-semaglutide-to-499-per-month-and-offering-easy-home-delivery-for-cash-paying-patients-302392874.html
- Novo Nordisk launches introductory self-pay offer for Wegovy and Ozempic for $199 per month . Novo Nordisk (via PR Newswire), published Nov 17, 2025. Checked .https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-launches-introductory-self-pay-offer-for-wegovy-and-ozempic-for-199-per-month-302617100.html
- Lilly lowers the price of Zepbound (tirzepatide) single-dose vials . Eli Lilly and Company, published Dec 1, 2025. Checked .https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-lowers-price-zepboundr-tirzepatide-single-dose-vials
- Zepbound on LillyDirect (vial and KwikPen self-pay prices) . Eli Lilly and Company. Checked .https://www.lilly.com/lillydirect/zepbound
- Wegovy savings offer and self-pay prices (pen, HD pen and pill) . Novo Nordisk (NovoCare). Checked .https://www.novocare.com/obesity/products/wegovy/savings-offer.html