Ozempic is Novo Nordisk's brand name for semaglutide for type 2 diabetes. FDA-approved 2017 for T2D; expanded 2020 to include cardiovascular risk reduction in T2D + established CVD. Weekly subcutaneous injection.

At a glance

Generic name: semaglutide
FDA-approved indications: Type 2 diabetes (2017); CV risk reduction in T2D + CVD (2020)
Manufacturer: Novo Nordisk
List price (cash, no coverage): ~$968/month
Insurance coverage: Most commercial plans cover for T2D indication

What Ozempic is and isn't

Ozempic and Wegovy contain the same active ingredient (semaglutide) but are different products with different dose ranges and different FDA-approved indications. Ozempic is approved for T2D; Wegovy is approved for chronic weight management and (since March 2024) for cardiovascular event reduction in adults with obesity and established CVD. See our Ozempic vs Wegovy comparison.

Dosing

Start: 0.25 mg weekly × 4 weeks (no glycemic effect at this dose; tolerance only).
Titration: 0.5 mg → 1.0 mg → 2.0 mg as needed.
Maintenance: 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg weekly.

Cost

List price ~$968/month. With insurance coverage for T2D, typical copay is $25–$100/month. Without coverage: NovoCare patient assistance program may help; Lilly Direct semaglutide cash-pay options unavailable (Lilly Direct is Eli Lilly, not Novo); compounded semaglutide is a cash-pay alternative — see our semaglutide page.

Ozempic (Semaglutide for T2D)

At a glance

What Ozempic is and isn't

Dosing

Cost

See also