FDA Approves Wegovy Pill, First Oral Weight Loss Medication

U.S. regulators have approved Wegovy's oral version, marking the first daily pill for obesity treatment. According to CBS News, this approval from the FDA gives Novo Nordisk a competitive advantage over Eli Lilly, whose oral drug, orforglipron, is still under review.

The Wegovy pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide, similar to the injectable versions, and in clinical trials, participants lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight over approximately 15 months, closely matching the effectiveness of the injectable Wegovy.

Experts believe that oral medications could increase accessibility and affordability in the obesity treatment market, which is currently estimated to affect around 100 million Americans suffering from obesity.

A survey revealed that 1 in 8 Americans have used injectable GLP-1 drugs, yet many find the costs prohibitive. The starting price for the pill is expected to be around $149 per month, as reported by both CBS News and NBC News.

The Wegovy pill is designed to be taken on an empty stomach with a sip of water, and unlike its injectable counterparts, it must be consumed first thing in the morning, which may impact adherence. While the approval is seen as a significant advancement in obesity treatment options, experts caution that the real-world effectiveness remains to be seen, particularly regarding patient adherence to the strict dosing schedule.

Additionally, while GLP-1 drugs have transformed obesity treatment, they still experience side effects similar to those found in injected forms, such as nausea and diarrhea. Novo Nordisk is preparing to launch the pill widely in January, having ramped up production to avoid shortages faced during the initial launch of Wegovy.

The implications of this approval may influence healthcare policies, especially regarding insurance coverage for weight-loss medications, which currently sees many private insurers limiting coverage options.

Medicare is restricted from covering weight-loss drugs, but Wegovy has been approved for lowering heart disease risk, which Medicare does cover. Dr. Angela Fitch emphasized that the focus needs to be on making weight-loss medications more accessible and affordable as the landscape of obesity treatment continues to evolve.