Novo Nordisk has introduced Wegovy pill, the first oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) therapy approved in the United States for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or overweight and at least one weight-related condition. The once-daily semaglutide tablet also carries an indication to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease, aligning with the label of the injectable Wegovy formulation.
The starter 1.5 mg dose is now available at tens of thousands of U.S. pharmacies and via select telehealth and direct-to-patient channels, with additional strengths to follow. Cash prices for self-pay patients range from about $149 per month for lower doses up to $299 per month for higher strengths, while eligible commercially insured patients may pay as little as $25 per month through savings programs.
Approval of the pill was supported by the OASIS 4 phase 3 trial, in which adults with obesity or overweight plus comorbidities achieved average weight loss of about 14–16.6% over 64 weeks when oral semaglutide was combined with diet and exercise. The launch positions Novo Nordisk ahead of a competing oral GLP-1 candidate from Eli Lilly that remains under FDA review.
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