May 22 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk is offering

self-paying U.S. patients who are new to its weight-loss drug

Wegovy their first month of medicine for $199 until June 30, the

Danish drugmaker said on Thursday, aiming to curb sales of

compounded drugs or copies of the drug.

The list price for Wegovy is over $1,000 a month but Novo

has begun selling the popular weight-loss drug directly to U.S.

consumers at a cash price of $499 a month.

The one-time, discounted offer of $199 is intended to help

patients who have previously been prescribed unapproved or

illicit drugs, the company said.

Patients will pay $499 per month from the second month

onwards, it said.

Compounding pharmacies had been allowed to produce hundreds

of thousands of doses of their versions of Novo's obesity and

diabetes drugs while the U.S. health regulator said the

medicines were in short supply.

Larger so-called outsourcing facilities, which make

compounded drugs in bulk, have been given until May 22 to cease

making the drug.