Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
Aspen vs Science & Co
Two GLP-1 programs on the bench, scored on the same six factors. Here's how their real cost of ownership compares — and which one we'd start with.
Aspen
Cost-first shoppers who want wanting one flat price regardless of whether treatment ends up being semaglutide or tirzepatide, if willing to commit to 3 months.
Visit AspenScience & Co
A twelve-month committer, or someone who values a company stating plainly what it is and is not.
Visit Science & CoThe verdict
Aspen and Science & Co tie on the Cost-Efficiency Index at 74/100, so neither wins outright on the numbers. For most shoppers we'd start with Aspen (ranked #57, a hair above #62) — Cost-first shoppers who want wanting one flat price regardless of whether treatment ends up being semaglutide or tirzepatide, if willing to commit to 3 months. But Science & Co is a genuine coin-flip alternative here.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the ranking). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs Aspen.
Factor by factor
Both providers scored on our six Cost-Efficiency Index factors. The stronger side on each row is marked in teal.
Normalized Cost/Month
Price Transparency
Nationwide Access
Formulation Options
Clinical Oversight
Contract Flexibility
Pricing, coverage & formulary
The disclosed facts behind the scores. Lower price wins its row (teal).
| Spec | Aspen | Science & Co |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 74/100 | 74/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $179/mo (all doses, compounded) | $149/mo month-to-month; $79 only on a twelve-month plan |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $179/mo (all doses, compounded) | $199/mo month-to-month; $125 only on a twelve-month plan |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,148 | $1,788 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $2,148 | $2,388 |
| Coverage | All 50 states | Not disclosed |
| Oral / sublingual | No | No |
| Brand-name access | Compounded only | Compounded only |
| Rank here | #57 | #62 |
Aspen
74/100Where the value is
- One transparent, dose-independent flat price ($179/mo) covers either the semaglutide or tirzepatide path, avoiding the tirzepatide surcharge most compounded competitors charge
- Price stated to be all-in: provider consultation, custom dosing, medication, and free delivery bundled with no listed add-on fees
- No insurance required, cash-pay simplicity
The tradeoffs
- The bold '$179/mo' headline omits its own fine-print condition — a 3-month commitment — visible only in small text directly beneath the price
- Almost nothing else is disclosed on the public site: no states-served list, no named medical director or prescriber, no named pharmacy, and no LegitScript certification found
Science & Co
74/100Where the value is
- States twice in its footer that "Science and Co, Inc. is not a 503A or 503B compounding facility"
- Its own FAQ names the commitment behind the headline: "Plans start at $79 a month on the 12 month plan"
- The printed saving corroborates the reference price — 79 divided by 149 is 53%, exactly the "Save 47%" shown
The tradeoffs
- The number it leads with is a twelve-month commitment; the per-month rates are $149 and $199
- Only two figures are published per drug, so a three- or six-month plan cannot be priced without starting an intake
Assume any provider we list may compensate us — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never changes the Cost-Efficiency Index. Pricing, states and verification reflect each provider's public disclosures at last review; prices change — confirm on the provider's site. Not medical advice. See our disclosure.