FDA Approves Novo Nordisk’s Oral Wegovy, First Daily GLP-1 Pill – NewBeauty

Weight-loss treatment just became needle-free. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an oral version of Wegovy from Novo Nordisk, making it the first GLP-1 pill cleared for obesity treatment.

Until now, highly effective GLP-1 medications have only been available as injections. The newly approved pill offers a once-daily alternative with results comparable to the injectable version. In late-stage trials, patients taking the highest dose lost about 14 percent of their body weight, similar to injectable Wegovy. Like its injectable counterpart, the pill is also approved to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Here’s what patients should know as daily pill options enter the GLP-1 conversation.

Featured Experts

• Andrea Traina, Pharm D, is an obesity director at Novo Nordisk
• Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk

How Oral Wegovy Changes the GLP-1 Landscape

For patients, the approval expands how obesity can be treated. “We now have a medication that’s proven for safety and efficacy beyond the scale available in a daily pill with a similar safety and efficacy profile to the once-weekly injection,” says Andrea Traina, PharmD, obesity medical director for Novo Nordisk. “That’s really first of its kind.”

The oral option may appeal to people who are hesitant about injections or want something that fits more easily into their daily routine. “Obesity treatment isn’t one size fits all,” Traina explains. “Being able to offer a weekly injection or a daily pill allows care to be individualized based on lifestyle and patient preference.”

Novo Nordisk says the pill was designed to feel intuitive for patients. “With Wegovy pill, you can sip and go,” says Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk. “Thirty minutes goes fast, and we believe the Wegovy pill fits seamlessly into the morning routine.”

Which Patients May Benefit Most

Oral Wegovy may be especially appealing to people interested in GLP-1 treatment who are hesitant about injections. Novo Nordisk says it could be a strong option for patients new to weight-loss therapy, as well as those who prefer a daily pill that doesn’t require refrigeration. The option may also resonate with patients who associate injections with more severe disease, even when outcomes are similar—adding another layer of choice in how treatment can fit into daily life.

The Science Behind Oral Wegovy

Creating an effective GLP-1 pill wasn’t simple, says Traina. Semaglutide is a peptide—a large protein not naturally designed to survive the digestive tract. “Figuring out how to get even one to two percent absorbed safely and effectively took years of research,” she explains. The tablet creates a localized environment in the stomach that temporarily increases absorption, a process that takes about 30 minutes and explains why the pill must be taken before eating.

Oral Wegovy is expected to launch in early January. While pricing for additional doses hasn’t yet been announced, Novo Nordisk says those details will be shared at launch.