Wegovy weight-loss drug now available as a pill in the US
Americans can now purchase the starter dose of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in pill form, drug maker Novo Nordisk announced on Monday, reports BritPanorama.
The daily pill, which is available by prescription, typically costs less than the weekly injection for self-pay patients willing to buy directly from Novo Nordisk and bypass insurance. The drug’s original steep price tag made it unaffordable for many seeking weight loss, as many commercial insurance plans do not cover it for obesity.
The 1.5 mg starter dose of the pill costs $149 a month for cash-paying patients, part of a recent deal Novo Nordisk made with the Trump administration. The 4 mg dose is priced the same until April 15, after which it will increase to $199. However, the 9 mg and 25 mg doses will cost $299 each month, according to the manufacturer.
The injectable version carries a $349 monthly price tag for self-pay consumers, though new patients may avail themselves of two months at $199 each for the lowest two doses until March, per Novo Nordisk.
Patients whose insurance plans cover the drug for obesity could pay as little as $25 a month under a savings program offered by Novo Nordisk. The pill is accessible in pharmacies, certain telehealth providers, and NovoCare Pharmacy among other locations.
Wegovy is also approved to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with overweight or obesity and established heart disease.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the daily pill version in late December. Clinical trials indicated that the oral Wegovy formulation demonstrated roughly similar weight loss and side effects as the injectable version, according to Novo Nordisk.
The pill utilizes the same active ingredient – semaglutide – as the original Wegovy, along with its sister diabetes drug, Ozempic.
Rival Eli Lilly, which produces the diabetes drug Mounjaro and the obesity drug Zepbound, is also working on oral GLP-1 medication, called orforglipron until it receives a brand name. It is expected to be approved by the FDA by summer and will also be priced at $149 as per the Trump agreement. Additional doses of orforglipron could cost up to $399 for self-pay patients.
GLP-1 medications have gained considerable popularity since their introduction several years ago. About 1 in 8 US adults report they are currently using one of these medicines, according to KFF, a health policy research group.
While no direct comparisons between the Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly pills have taken place in clinical trials, separate studies found that the Wegovy pill led to an average weight loss of 14% over 64 weeks, compared to 2% for a placebo, whereas orforglipron showed an 11% weight loss over 72 weeks at its highest dose, again compared to 2% for placebo.
Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and vomiting represent the most common side effects associated with GLP-1 drugs, seen in trials involving both formats. Overall, 7% of participants in the Wegovy pill trial ceased treatment due to side effects, compared to 6% among those on placebo. Meanwhile, in orforglipron’s study, up to 10% of patients discontinued treatment, compared with 3% in the placebo group.
One key difference between the medications is that the Wegovy pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a small amount of water, with patients directed not to eat, drink, or take other medications for 30 minutes after ingestion. This requirement has reportedly limited the use of a similar oral version of semaglutide, known as Rybelsus, according to medical professionals.
Lilly emphasizes that orforglipron can be taken once a day at any time without food or water restrictions, potentially offering a more convenient alternative for patients.
The emergence of Wegovy in pill form marks a significant development in the ongoing evolution of weight-loss treatments.
