LillyDirect vs NovoCare: manufacturer direct-pay channels
Written by
glpzoom Editorial Team
Medically reviewed
Against primary clinical sourcesLast reviewed June 2026
- $0/mo
- orforglipron via LillyDirect
- $0-549
- Zepbound vial direct-pay
- $0/mo
- NovoCare Wegovy self-pay
- 0
- insurance required (cash-pay)
With the FDA moving to end mass compounding of GLP-1s in 2026, the cheap-compounded path is closing. The replacement that manufacturers built is direct-to-consumer cash-pay: buy the branded drug straight from Lilly or Novo, often at roughly half the pharmacy list price, without insurance.
These channels still route the prescription through a licensed clinician (frequently a telehealth partner), so they are not a way around the prescription requirement. They are a way around the pharmacy and PBM markup.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | LillyDirect | NovoCare |
|---|---|---|
| Operator | Eli Lilly (LillyDirect) | Novo Nordisk (NovoCare) |
| Drugs | Zepbound, Mounjaro, Orforglipron | Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda |
| Cash price (vial program) | Zepbound vials from $349-499/mo | Wegovy from $499/mo self-pay |
| Orforglipron (oral) | $149/mo at launch | Not applicable |
| Telehealth bundled? | Yes — partners with telehealth for the Rx | Yes — NovoCare partner network |
| Insurance | Cash-pay focus; insurance via partners | Cash-pay focus; insurance via partners |
| Shipping | Direct to patient | Direct to patient |