Wegovy vs Zepbound
Side-by-side cost comparison based on Medicare Part D data
Wegovy
Semaglutide (weight)
Manufactured by Novo Nordisk
Zepbound
Tirzepatide (weight)
Manufactured by Eli Lilly
Wegovy costs 5% less per claim than Zepbound ($820.00 vs $867.00). A generic version of Wegovy is also available, which may reduce costs further.
Cost Per Claim
Medicare Spending
Beneficiaries
Annual Cost Per Patient
Full Comparison
| Metric | Wegovy | Zepbound |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Cost Per Claim | $820.00 | $867.00 |
| Total Medicare Spending | $2.3B | $1.5B |
| Total Beneficiaries | 420,000 | 248,000 |
| Total Claims | 2,860,000 | 1,680,000 |
| Annual Cost/Patient | $5,583.00 | $5,871.00 |
| Year-over-Year Change | +185.6% | 0.0% |
| Generic Available | Yes | Yes |
| Patent Expiration | Jan 31, 2023 | Jan 31, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Novo Nordisk | Eli Lilly |
| Condition | Obesity | Obesity |
| Generic Name | Semaglutide (weight) | Tirzepatide (weight) |
Wegovy vs Zepbound: What the Data Shows
Wegovy (Semaglutide (weight)) and Zepbound (Tirzepatide (weight)) are both used to treat obesity. Based on Medicare Part D data, Wegovy costs $820.00 per claim, which is 5% less than Zepbound at $867.00 per claim.
Medicare spent $2.3B on Wegovy and $1.5B on Zepbound. In terms of patient reach, Wegovy serves more beneficiaries (420,000 vs 248,000).
Year-over-year spending changed +185.6% for Wegovy and 0.0% for Zepbound. Wegovy saw significant spending growth, suggesting increased utilization or price increases.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Patients should discuss generic alternatives with their pharmacist to reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Wegovy is cheaper at $820.00 per claim, compared to $867.00 for Zepbound. That makes Wegovy about 5% less expensive per claim based on Medicare Part D data.
Yes, both Wegovy and Zepbound are used to treat obesity. Your doctor can help determine which medication is more appropriate for your specific situation.
Both drugs have generic versions available. Generic Semaglutide (weight) and generic Tirzepatide (weight) can offer significant cost savings — typically 80-95% less than the brand name.
Medicare Part D spent $2.3B on Wegovy covering 420,000 beneficiaries, and $1.5B on Zepbound covering 248,000 beneficiaries.
Explore Further
Cost data reflects Medicare Part D spending and may not represent retail pharmacy prices. Average cost per claim represents the total drug cost (not patient out-of-pocket) divided by total claims. This comparison is informational only and should not replace medical advice.