How This Tracker Works (Methodology)

Slug: `methodology` · **Also copy this file to `01_tracker/site/methodology.md` — the site builds its methodology page from it.**

What we track

Published consumer prices for FDA-approved GLP-1 medications across every channel where a patient can legitimately fill a prescription: manufacturer direct-pharmacy programs (LillyDirect, NovoCare), TrumpRx, manufacturer savings cards, Medicare arrangements, telehealth subscription programs, and retail reference prices. Prices are collected only from official, publicly published pages.

What we deliberately don't track

Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide. These products sit in a shifting regulatory situation with the FDA, and listing their prices would imply a purchase recommendation we're not qualified — or willing — to make. We also don't compare drug *effectiveness*; that's a medical question for you and your physician, not a spreadsheet question.

How verification works

Every price in the table carries three things: an **as-of date**, a **source link** to the official page, and an archived **screenshot** taken on the verification date. A human re-verifies the full table weekly (typically Fridays, Japan time); anything that changed gets a row in the public [change log](changelog.html) — old price, new price, date. Rows we haven't yet confirmed display an "unverified" badge and no price rather than a guessed one. If you catch an error, the fastest fix is the contact link below — corrections ship in the next build, credited.

What we do when a row goes stale

A re-check can be missed — a holiday, a source page redesign, an operator away. We publish what that costs rather than hiding it. Every row carries the date it was actually checked, and the date shown anywhere on this site is always a real verification date, never the date the page happened to be rebuilt. A row past one weekly cycle (7 days) gets a "re-check" marker showing its age; past two cycles (14 days) the marker and the banner at the top of the table say so in stronger terms and tell you to open the source link before acting. What we will not do is take the table offline for being old: an honestly-dated price you can check yourself is more useful than a blank page, and a rule that goes dark when it fires would quietly encourage nobody to write the rule at all. Staleness changes what the page claims about itself; it never removes the page.

Why prices here may differ from what you pay

Published program prices are not quotes. Insurance coverage, prior authorization, dose tier, pharmacy stock, program eligibility (several savings cards exclude government plans), and enrollment windows all move the number. Treat this table as your starting map, then confirm the final price with the program or your pharmacist before committing.

How this site makes money

Some outbound links to telehealth programs and retailers are affiliate links — if you sign up through them, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Three rules keep that honest: commissions never affect ranking (the table sorts by *your* click, not our payout); we link every channel we track whether or not it pays us; and prices are transcribed from the source page identically either way. We accept no payment for placement and no sponsored rankings.

Who runs this

An independent research operation (Speculan LLC). We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, or any pharmacy or telehealth provider named here. Trademarks belong to their owners and are used only to identify the products being priced.

*Nothing on this site is medical advice. Medication decisions belong with you and your physician.*