FDA Approves Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss, Novo Nordisk Announces

WASHINGTON: Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk announced on Monday that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved its popular GLP-1 anti-obesity drug Wegovy in pill form for weight loss.

“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 Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk.

While Wegovy was previously available as an injection, the new pill allows doctors to prescribe it to adults with obesity or those overweight with at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as a heart condition. The FDA had already approved the pill for diabetes treatment, but this expansion now includes weight-loss use.

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The announcement was welcomed by the US Obesity Care Advocacy Network (OCAN), which said the pill provides an alternative for patients hesitant to use injectable therapy and could offer a lower-cost option.

GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, have grown popular due to their appetite-suppressing properties and effectiveness in weight loss.

US President Donald Trump recently announced deals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to reduce prices of certain weight-loss drugs, potentially bringing starting oral doses down to $150, while injectable versions remain more expensive.

Novo Nordisk has indicated the Wegovy pill is planned for a US launch in January, though pricing details were not disclosed. The approval marks a significant step in providing more accessible obesity treatments to millions of Americans, where adult obesity prevalence is estimated at 40 percent by the CDC.