The drug is available as a weight-loss medication under the brand name Wegovy and will now also be sold directly to diabetes patients

Price hikes are 'kick in the teeth' for patients who will either have to swallow 170 per cent price increase, or switch to 'almost as good' competitor

Patients can pay $499 in cash per month for three dose sizes of Ozempic through the company's direct-to-consumer pharmacy and GoodRx, among other platforms.