The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, announced pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. This marks the first time a weight-loss medication in pill form has received such regulatory approval in the US.
The once-daily pill offers a convenient alternative to the injectable version of Wegovy, providing comparable weight loss results. While Wegovy is specifically approved for weight loss, similar drugs like Ozempic are primarily approved for treating Type 2 diabetes.
In clinical trials involving about 1,300 participants, the Wegovy pill demonstrated an average weight loss of 16.6%, with one-third of participants losing 20% or more of their body weight.
Novo Nordisk plans to launch the pill in the US in early January 2026. Mike Doustdar, the company’s CEO, highlighted the convenience of the pill, stating it will help patients achieve weight loss similar to the injection.
The approval comes at a crucial time for Novo Nordisk, which has faced tough competition from rivals like Eli Lilly in the weight-loss market. Following the announcement, Novo Nordisk’s shares rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading in New York.
