FDA Approves Wegovy Weight-Loss Pill
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a daily pill version of Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy, opening the door to a new way of taking the medicines that have reshaped obesity treatment.
The tablet uses the same active ingredient, semaglutide, which is found in the injectable Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic. Until now, weight-loss drugs classified as GLP-1 have largely been given as weekly shots. Novo Nordisk says the pill offers similar results, without the needle.
“This is a meaningful step forward in the field,” said Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who runs a weight loss clinic in North Carolina. “It won’t replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way.”
In late-stage trials, people taking the highest dose of the Wegovy pill lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight over about 64 weeks, compared with just over 2% in the placebo group. Novo Nordisk said around a third of trial participants lost 20% or more. Those results are broadly in line with the injectable version of Wegovy.
Novo Nordisk’s chief executive Mike Doustdar said: “Patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection.” The company expects the pill to launch in the US in January 2026.
Doctors say convenience could be a major draw. “Pills are familiar, nonintimidating and fit more naturally into most people’s routines,” McGowan said. “For many patients, a pill isn’t just easier, it’s psychologically more acceptable.”
Still, the pill comes with trade-offs. It has to be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, with limited water, and patients must wait before eating or taking other medicines. Trial data showed people who struggled to stick to the schedule lost less weight. The reported side effects were similar to injections, mainly nausea and vomiting, and some doctors say that stomach issues can feel stronger because the drug is absorbed all at once.
Pricing and coverage remain open questions. Novo Nordisk has not released full pricing, but under a deal announced in November with the Trump administration, the lowest dose will cost $149 a month for people paying out of pocket. Insurance coverage is expected to vary, though the pill was also approved for reducing heart disease risk, which could affect access for some patients.
The approval comes as competition in the weight-loss drug market heats up. Eli Lilly is expected to win FDA clearance for its own weight-loss pill, orforglipron, in the coming months. Injectable drugs from Lilly, including Zepbound, have shown greater average weight loss in trials, but analysts say pills could play a growing role, especially for long-term weight maintenance.
Novo Nordisk has faced pressure this year from rivals and supply issues, but investors welcomed the news, sending its shares almost 10% higher during after-hours trade in New York after the announcement. For patients, the shift signals more choice in a fast-moving market that’s already changed how obesity is treated.
