Nearly one in two Filipino adults is living with overweight or obesity. According to the latest National Nutrition Council’s report on the Department of Science and Technology-Food and Nutrition Research Institute’s 2025 Updating Survey, prevalence reached 44.5%, up from 39.8% in 2023, underscoring the growing need for accessible care.
Addressing this burden requires access to medical assessment, appropriate treatment and ongoing support. For patients prescribed medicines, both cost and the ability to obtain their treatment consistently can affect access to care.
Against this backdrop, Novo Nordisk Philippines has announced lower suggested retail prices for the 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg and 1.0 mg strengths of its once-weekly semaglutide formulation indicated for weight management, effective October 2026.
Semaglutide (Wegovy®) is a prescription medicine. For weight management, the formulation is indicated for eligible patients alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. A physician must assess treatment suitability, explain the benefits and risks, and guide dosing and follow-up. The prevalence of overweight and obesity does not, by itself, determine eligibility for medication.
The new suggested retail price for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg strengths is ?8,188 per pen, down from ?9,900, a reduction of approximately 17%. The suggested retail price for the 1.0 mg strength is ?9,279 per pen, down from ?9,900, or approximately 6%. Each pen contains four doses of its labelled strength, providing four weeks of treatment when used once weekly as prescribed.
Eligible senior citizens (SCs) and persons with disabilities (PWDs) receive a further 20% discount, bringing the confirmed prices to ?6,550 per pen for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg strengths, and ?7,423 per pen for the 1.0 mg strength.
The affected strengths are used during the early stages of the prescribed dose-escalation schedule. The equal suggested retail prices for the 0.25 mg and 0.5 mg strengths mean there is no increase in the suggested price per pen at that prescribed dose step. Costs at subsequent strengths may differ and should be considered when planning ongoing care.
‘Medicine costs are one part of the access challenge,’ said Wei Sun, General Manager of Novo Nordisk Philippines. ‘Reliable availability, appropriate prescribing and ongoing medical support also matter. The price adjustment should be understood as one step within that broader need.’
The price adjustment sits alongside Novo Nordisk Philippines’ Live, which aims to build understanding of obesity as a disease and encourage Filipinos to seek appropriate medical guidance. Disease awareness and access to care are connected: recognising the need for support is a first step, while obtaining assessment, appropriate treatment and follow-up enables people to act on that understanding.
Lower prices can reduce a financial barrier, but broader access also depends on patients being able to reach healthcare professionals, obtain their prescribed medicine through licensed pharmacies and receive follow-up care. Planning for treatment should therefore consider medicine availability and the overall cost of care, including consultations, any necessary tests and subsequent prescribed doses.
Obesity care should be based on individual health needs and may include nutritional support, physical activity, behavioural interventions, medicines or other treatment options, as clinically appropriate. A medical consultation can help patients understand their options and develop a care plan suited to their circumstances.
Patients prescribed semaglutide should obtain it only from licensed pharmacies with a valid prescription. They should confirm the prescribed strength, stock availability and actual retail price with the dispensing pharmacy, including applicable senior citizen or PWD discounts. Questions about dosing, side effects or interruptions in treatment should be discussed with the prescribing physician.