Novo Nordisk has achieved a milestone by being the first pharmaceutical company to gain FDA approval for a weight-loss pill.
Their newly approved daily tablet, named the Wegovy pill, includes semaglutide, which is the same active ingredient found in Wegovy and Ozempic.
This medication functions by reducing appetite and maintaining stable blood sugar levels, assisting individuals in losing weight.
While weekly injections are a popular choice, this new daily pill will offer a less-invasive alternative on the market soon.
The company asserts that this innovative pill is as effective as the injectable version.
In clinical trials involving approximately 1,300 participants, the average weight loss recorded was 16.6 percent of body weight.
Notably, about one in three participants experienced a weight loss of 20 percent or more.
Wegovy, unlike similar drugs such as Ozempic that are approved for type 2 diabetes, is specifically sanctioned for weight loss purposes.
Novo Nordisk has announced that this pill version will become available in the US by early January 2026, offering a more convenient option for patients.
“The pill is here. With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” stated Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk.
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight loss journey.”
He further remarked that ‘no other current oral GLP-1 treatment can match the weight loss delivered by the Wegovy pill’.
“We are very excited for what this will mean for patients in the US.”
This approval places Novo Nordisk ahead of its major competitor, Eli Lilly, in the race to develop a weight-loss pill.
Lilly currently markets successful injectable medications like Mounjaro and Zepbound but is awaiting approval for its oral pill, known as orforglipron.
Orforglipron has demonstrated promising outcomes in trials, promoting significant weight loss and improved blood sugar levels.
Nonetheless, it has yet to receive regulatory approval, allowing Novo Nordisk to gain a significant lead.
This timing is crucial for Novo Nordisk, which has experienced a challenging year with intense competition and profit pressures, making the FDA-approved weight-loss pill a potential catalyst for growth.
Reports indicate that Novo Nordisk’s shares rose by over nine percent on December 23 following the FDA approval announcement.
Experts are suggesting that this development could mark the beginning of a significant industry shift.
If these pills can provide similar results to injections at a lower cost, the demand for weight-loss injections may decline significantly.