FDA approved Wegovy pill for chronic weight loss, offering a daily oral alternative to weekly injections.

The US FDA authorized Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill, which contains semaglutide, for chronic weight management in obese or overweight adults with at least one related health condition. This pill formulation provides a daily oral alternative to the previously available weekly injectables like Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound. The pill could enhance patient adherence and reduce costs. Novo will release a 1.5 mg starting dose in early January, priced around $149 monthly through some healthcare providers. This development responds to the US obesity epidemic and high demand for GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, where many patients face affordability and administration challenges with injectable versions. Novo is positioning the pill competitively against Lilly, which has a daily pill under FDA review for 2026.