Analysis

Verified April 2026: Zepbound and Mounjaro are the exact same drug (tirzepatide) at the same doses. Mounjaro was FDA-approved May 2022 for Type 2 diabetes. Zepbound was FDA-approved November 2023 for chronic weight management and December 2024 for obstructive sleep apnea. List price is ~$1,087/mo for both; with commercial insurance + savings cards both drop to $25/mo (max $1,950/yr). The real differences: which one your insurance covers, what the FDA label allows, and Zepbound's LillyDirect self-pay vials at $299-$449/mo — a program Mounjaro does not offer.

Verified April 12, 2026: Oral Wegovy produces 16.6% body weight loss vs Foundayo's 12.4%, but Foundayo starts at $149/mo self-pay (WAC $649/mo) vs Wegovy's $1,349/mo and has no fasting requirement. Foundayo now available via Amazon Pharmacy, GoodRx, Weight Watchers, Ro, and LillyDirect. Full comparison with OASIS and ATTAIN trial data.

Verified April 2026: Brand-name Wegovy is $349/mo via NovoCare, Zepbound starts at $299/mo via LillyDirect. Compounded semaglutide is banned since Feb 2025; compounded tirzepatide remains legal at $149-299/mo under narrow medical-necessity rules. Full legal + safety comparison.

How much do GLP-1 medications cost in 2026? Wegovy, Zepbound, Ozempic, Mounjaro & Foundayo range from $25–$1,350/month. With insurance + savings card: $25/mo. Without insurance: $99/mo compounded (Sesame Care), $149/mo Foundayo pill, $299–449/mo brand injectable (LillyDirect, NovoCare). Medicare: $50/mo starting July 2026. Prices verified April 17, 2026 across 40 providers.

Verified April 2026: Retatrutide (Eli Lilly, LY-3437943) achieved 28.7% body weight loss in Phase 3 TRIUMPH trials — nearly double semaglutide (14.9%) and 37% higher than tirzepatide (20.9%). First triple-agonist (GLP-1 + GIP + glucagon). FDA approval expected late 2027 to early 2028.

Verified April 2026: 5 next-gen obesity drugs in Phase 3. Retatrutide (Lilly, triple-agonist) 28.7% weight loss, CagriSema (Novo) 22.7%, MariTide (Amgen, monthly injection), survodutide (BI/Zealand), orforglipron now approved as Foundayo. FDA approvals expected 2026-2028.

Verified April 2026: Zepbound (tirzepatide) produces 20.9% body weight loss vs Wegovy's (semaglutide) 14.9% per the SURMOUNT-1 and STEP-1 trials. Wegovy self-pay: $349/mo (NovoCare). Zepbound self-pay: $299-$449/mo (LillyDirect). Both $25/mo with commercial insurance + savings card.

Verified April 2026: Ozempic and Wegovy are both semaglutide from Novo Nordisk. Ozempic ($1,028/mo list) is approved for type 2 diabetes at max 2mg. Wegovy ($1,349/mo list) is approved for weight loss at max 2.4mg (or 7.2mg HD). Both drop to $349/mo self-pay via NovoCare.

Verified April 2026: Oral Wegovy (25mg daily pill) produces 16.6% weight loss per the OASIS trial vs 14.9% for injectable Wegovy (2.4mg weekly) per STEP-1. Pill costs $1,349/mo list vs $349/mo self-pay for the injection through NovoCare. Full head-to-head comparison.

Verified April 2026: Tirzepatide produces 20.2% weight loss vs semaglutide's 13.7% in the head-to-head SURMOUNT-5 trial (NEJM). Tirzepatide activates GLP-1 + GIP dual receptors; semaglutide activates GLP-1 only. Tirzepatide costs $449/mo vs $349/mo self-pay. Full comparison.

Verified April 2026: Tirzepatide costs $149/mo via Enhance MD (compounded), $299/mo via LillyDirect (brand Zepbound 2.5mg vial), $449/mo for LillyDirect 5mg+ vials, $25/mo with Zepbound savings card, or $1,086/mo retail list price. Full price breakdown with 40 verified providers.

Verified April 2026: Tirzepatide compounding enforcement began March 2025 after FDA removed it from the shortage list. Narrow medical-necessity exemptions still allow legal compounded tirzepatide at $149-300/mo (vs $1,086/mo retail Zepbound). Complete legal framework, safety, and verified pricing.

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Two of the biggest telehealth platforms now offer branded Wegovy and GLP-1 programs. We compare Ro and Hims on pricing, medications, insurance, clinical support, and what actually changed after the Novo Nordisk lawsuit.