The FDA has approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy in a once-daily pill form for weight loss, offering a new convenient alternative to injections.
WASHINGTON: The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the first GLP-1 anti-obesity drug in pill form.
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced the approval of its once-daily Wegovy pill for weight loss on Monday.
“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,” said Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar.
The FDA had previously approved a similar GLP-1 pill only for treating type 2 diabetes.
This new approval allows doctors to specifically prescribe the oral medication for chronic weight management.
The new generation of GLP-1 agonist drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic have surged in popularity for their potent appetite-suppressing effects.
Last month, US President Donald Trump announced deals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to lower prices of some weight-loss drugs.
Those agreements could offer starting oral doses for as little as $150, compared to current costs exceeding $1,000 monthly for injectables.
