Head-to-head · Cost-Efficiency Index
ShedRx (Shed) vs NovoCare Pharmacy
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.
ShedRx (Shed)
People who want a needle-free route or a brand-name option, and who will commit to twelve months to reach the lowest price.
Visit ShedRx (Shed)NovoCare Pharmacy
Cost-first shoppers who want branded Wegovy at the lowest manufacturer-direct self-pay price.
Visit NovoCare PharmacyThe verdict
ShedRx (Shed) takes it, leading the Cost-Efficiency Index 87 to 62. The widest set of formats on the board — injection, drops, lozenges and a daily oral pill, plus a real brand Zepbound route — though its cheapest advertised rates need a year-long commitment. NovoCare Pharmacy still earns a C — Cost-first shoppers who want branded Wegovy at the lowest manufacturer-direct self-pay price.
Worth knowing either way: our overall #1 pick is CoreAge Rx (Cost-Efficiency Index 94/100 — the top of the board). See how it stacks up: CoreAge Rx vs ShedRx (Shed).
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 | ShedRx (Shed) | NovoCare Pharmacy |
|---|---|---|
| Cost-Efficiency Index | 87/100 | 62/100 |
| Semaglutide / mo | $199/mo ($159 on a 12-month plan) | $349/mo (2.4 mg dose, brand-name) |
| Tirzepatide / mo | $299/mo ($239 on a 12-month plan) | Not disclosed |
| Semaglutide / yr (modeled) | $2,388 | $4,188 |
| Tirzepatide / yr (modeled) | $3,588 | — |
| Coverage | All 50 states | All 50 states |
| Oral / sublingual | Yes | Yes |
| Brand-name access | Yes | Yes |
| Rank on the board | #3 | #208 |
ShedRx (Shed)
87/100Where the value is
- Four routes to a GLP-1 — injection, liquid drops, lozenges and a daily oral pill
- Brand Zepbound and Wegovy available alongside the compounded line
- Available in all 50 states, with health coaching included and a published 120-day weight-loss guarantee
The tradeoffs
- The advertised "as low as" prices ($159 semaglutide, $239 tirzepatide) require a TWELVE-MONTH commitment — month-to-month is $199 and $299
- Compounded medication is not FDA-approved the way brand Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound are
NovoCare Pharmacy
62/100Where the value is
- First-party Novo Nordisk pharmacy — the most authoritative branded Wegovy channel
- $199/mo intro pricing on Wegovy 0.25/0.5 mg starter doses (through 6/30/2026), the lowest brand self-pay price
- $349/mo standard self-pay is well below the ~$1,300/mo retail list price
The tradeoffs
- Wegovy only — no Ozempic, no tirzepatide, no compounded GLP-1
- Requires an existing Wegovy prescription — no prescribing clinicians or telehealth 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.