The Food and Drug Administration has approved a tablet version of the GLP-1 drug Wegovy for weight loss, marking a significant development in obesity treatment options.
A well-known weight loss medication is now available in the United States in pill form. The availability comes just weeks after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the tablet version of the GLP-1 drug Wegovy for weight loss.
Officials at Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the medication, announced that a "starter dose" of 1.5 milligrams (mg) can now be purchased with a prescription at pharmacies and other facilities across the United States. Higher doses of the Wegovy pill became available by the end of the initial launch week, company officials said.
The new pill represents a significant milestone as the only medication specifically prescribed for weight loss that can be taken as a tablet rather than an injection. In phase III clinical trials, the Wegovy pill produced an average of 16% weight loss in participants who took the medication over a 64-week period.
"We know there are people who are interested in addressing their weight but have been waiting on the sidelines for a medicine that was right for them. For many of them, that wait is over as we can now offer the powerful efficacy of Wegovy in a once-daily pill," said Ed Cinca, senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions at Novo Nordisk.
Medical experts believe a pill form of GLP-1 medication could help people adhere to weight loss routines that also involve healthy diet and regular exercise.
"The advent of a weight loss pill certainly has some advantages," explained Dr. Mir Ali, a general surgeon, bariatric surgeon, and medical director of MemorialCare Surgical Weight Loss Center at Orange Coast Medical Center in California. "People are more used to taking pills than they are taking injections."
Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD, president of KAK Consulting and a dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic Department of Wellness & Preventive Medicine in Ohio, agreed: "I think this will be a great option for individuals who have not considered taking these drugs due to them being injectables."
Novo Nordisk officials said the Wegovy pill is now available in more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS and Costco, as well as select telehealth providers.
The medication costs approximately $149 for a month's supply without insurance coverage or special savings under an agreement between the company and the Trump administration. With insurance, the Wegovy starter dose could cost as little as $25 per month.
A 4 mg dose of the pill also costs $149 per month initially, rising to $199 after mid-April. The 9 mg and 25 mg doses are projected to cost $299 monthly.
The Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water. Patients are directed not to eat, drink, or ingest other medications for 30 minutes after taking the pill. It is intended to be prescribed along with a reduced-calorie diet and daily exercise routine.
"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 chief executive officer of Novo Nordisk. "The Wegovy pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight loss journey."
Experts note that tablet forms of weight loss drugs provide several conveniences. They are generally cheaper than injections, don't need refrigeration, and don't involve needles.
"It may open up the option for many more people," Kirkpatrick said. "It also appears that the price may be more affordable, taking away yet another potential barrier to consideration for taking these drugs."
However, Dr. Sun Kim, an associate professor of medicine at Stanford University in California, pointed out that once-a-week injections can be more convenient for some people than remembering a daily pill.
"I also think it may be easier to quit or delay an oral medication when faced with side effects like nausea, which is common with GLP-1 medications," she noted.
Cost remains a significant barrier. Ali said insurance companies may be reluctant to cover these medications initially, as they have been in the past with other weight loss treatments.
"I'm concerned about access as coverage of GLP-1 medications will be reduced for patients, especially those who rely on Medicaid," Kim added.
Several options exist for people seeking treatment for type 2 diabetes or obesity, though most are approved only for adults.
Wegovy has been available as an injection since FDA approval in June 2021, currently costing $349 per month for higher doses without insurance. The injectable form contains the active ingredient semaglutide.
Ozempic, also manufactured by Novo Nordisk, is another semaglutide-based GLP-1 medication, but it's approved only for diabetes treatment, not weight loss. Rybelsus, available as a tablet since September 2019, is also semaglutide-based but approved only for type 2 diabetes treatment.
Eli Lilly offers two GLP-1 medications containing tirzepatide: Mounjaro (approved for type 2 diabetes) and Zepbound (approved for weight loss). The company is developing an oral weight loss medication called orforglipron, which showed promise in recent phase III clinical trials and has been submitted to the FDA for approval.
Experts emphasize that weight loss medications don't magically melt away fat or burn calories. These medications work by suppressing hunger and appetite responses, prompting people to eat less.
"GLP-1-based medications, including the Wegovy pill, have been revolutionary to the care of patients living with obesity," Kim said. "However, it is important to also continue to focus on eating a quality diet and exercising regularly."
Ali stressed that 90% of a person's weight results from what they eat. He advises patients to reduce carbohydrate and sugar consumption while increasing protein and vegetable intake.
"There are no magic solutions," he said. "You must eat well and exercise regularly."
Kirkpatrick's advice remains consistent regardless of medication type: "Lifestyle change also has to accompany the pharmacological approach. Diet and exercise will still be strong predictors of long-term success."
The approval and availability of the Wegovy pill represent an important advancement in weight management options, but medical professionals agree that sustainable weight loss requires a comprehensive approach combining medication, dietary changes, and regular physical activity.
