(The Hill) – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Novo Nordisk’s oral version of the Wegovy weight-loss pill, the first such supplement approved for use.
Novo Nordisk said in a Tuesday release that the GLP-1 pill is intended for once-daily use to “reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long-term and to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events.”
The company expects to launch the pill in the U.S. in early 2026.
The FDA previously approved Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy injection in August. The injection is intended to treat metabolic-associated steatohepatitis, a serious liver disease, in adults with excessive scar tissue in that organ.
Mike Doustdar, the president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in the release that the oral pill “provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help patients start or continue their weight loss journey.”
In November, the Trump administration touted deals with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to sell their GLP-1 products at lower prices under its Most Favored Nation policy.
Under the agreement, oral GLP-1s that were under review will be sold at a starting price of $149 per month for individuals on Medicare and Medicaid, as well as those utilizing the TrumpRX platform that is set to launch in January.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called the move a “lifesaver” for those who cannot afford the drugs but noted that his department will also address the “root causes of chronic disease.”
A survey by health policy research group KFF released in November found that 12 percent of respondents are currently taking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Over half, though, said the drugs were difficult to afford.
The most common side effects of Wegovy include nausea, gastrointestinal issues, vomiting fatigue, dizziness and low blood sugar in those with type 2 diabetes, according to Novo Nordisk.