ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco is extending its health and wellness reach, adding the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy to its pharmacy offering.
The move makes Costco the latest major retailer to enter the fast-growing GLP-1 market, joining CVS and Walmart in offering the sought-after prescriptions at a flat $499 monthly price for members paying out of pocket. Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer of both drugs, confirmed that the medications will be available at more than 500 Costco pharmacies nationwide, The New York Times first reported.
That price aligns with Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer model and represents roughly half the list price for Ozempic and about two-thirds less than Wegovy. Executive members and Costco Citibank Visa cardholders will also receive an additional 2% cash-back reward through the retailer’s prescription program.
By introducing popular weight-loss treatments into its pharmacies, Costco is leveraging its scale and membership model to compete in a growing consumer health segment that has reshaped both pharmacy and grocery retail. GLP-1 medications, which mimic a hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar levels, have become a powerful sales driver across retail channels, driven by significant consumer demand and strong repeat purchasing behavior.
“We continue to find new ways to make access to our medicines more convenient, meeting people where they are,” a Novo Nordisk spokeswoman said.
With more than 100 million members and one of the fastest-growing pharmacy operations in the U.S., Costco’s addition of Ozempic and Wegovy could expand access to millions of potential new users — many of whom are currently paying out of pocket due to limited insurance coverage for weight-loss drugs.
Analysts note that the partnership underscores how retailers are adapting pharmacy strategies to capitalize on the GLP-1 boom — positioning themselves not only as access points for prescriptions but as central players in the broader health and wellness economy.
