The approved pills changed the maths
Two oral GLP-1s were approved either side of the new year, both starting at $149 a month. That undercuts a large part of the compounded market.
Updated 2026-09-18 · every price checked by hand
$149 a month, FDA-approved, in a pill. That undercuts most of the compounded programmes in our tables outright.
Both start at $149 a month self-pay. That is more than the cheapest compounded programmes — SuperHealthy Rx is $85 and Trimi is $125 — but it is less than the majority of what we track, and it buys a product the FDA has actually reviewed.
Where the pills sit on our tables
They beat every compounded programme charging more than $149 — which is most of them — while being a reviewed, approved product. They lose to the $86 to $133 flat-rate leaders. So the honest answer is: if you are paying over $200 a month for compounded, the approved pill is now cheaper as well as better regulated.
Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide)
Approved late December 2025, launched in the US on 5 January 2026. The first oral GLP-1 approved for weight management — the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection, taken as a daily tablet.
Self-pay from $149/month for the 1.5 mg starting dose. The 4 mg dose was offered at $149/month through 15 April 2026 and $199/month after, with the highest doses around $299/month.
Available through LillyDirect-style manufacturer channels and telehealth partners including Ro, GoodRx Care Direct and Walgreens.
How they compare with what we normally cover
| Option | From | Form | FDA-approved? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) | $149/mo | Daily tablet | Yes |
| Foundayo (orforglipron) | $149/mo | Daily tablet | Yes |
| Cheapest compounded semaglutide (SuperHealthy Rx) | $85/mo | Weekly injection | No |
| Cheapest compounded tirzepatide (Trimi) | $125/mo | Weekly injection | No |
| Typical compounded programme | $189–$449/mo | Weekly injection | No |
| Wegovy injection, self-pay | $199 then $349/mo | Weekly injection | Yes |
What this does not mean. A pill is not automatically better than an injection. Oral semaglutide has strict instructions about taking it on an empty stomach with a small sip of water and waiting before eating — get that wrong and it underperforms. And the trial weight-loss figures for injectable tirzepatide remain the highest of any of these options.
Who should actually consider switching
- Anyone paying more than about $200 a month for a compounded injection. You are now paying a premium for a non-approved product, which is a strange place to be.
- Anyone who never wanted to inject. This is the obvious one — a genuine approved alternative now exists at a sane price.
- Anyone uneasy about the compounding rules. The 2026 regulatory direction is not friendly to compounded GLP-1s; see is compounded still legal.
- Medicare beneficiaries. From July 2026 you may be able to get an approved GLP-1 for $50 a month — see the Medicare programme.
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