On Monday, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk’s 25 mg oral semaglutide pill for chronic weight management. This move marks the first time a potent GLP-1 drug—previously only available as a weekly injection—has been authorized as a daily tablet for weight loss.
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The pill uses the same active ingredient (semaglutide) found in the popular injectables Wegovy and Ozempic. Clinical trials demonstrated its high efficacy:
- Average Weight Loss: Participants lost 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks.
- Comparison: The placebo group in the same study lost only 2.7%.
- Target Patients: Approved for adults with obesity or those who are overweight with at least one weight-related health condition (such as high blood pressure).
Competitive Landscape
This approval allows Novo Nordisk to regain momentum against its primary rival, Eli Lilly.
- Novo’s Advantage: Being first to market with an oral version addresses “needle hesitancy” and storage issues (pills do not require refrigeration).
- Lilly’s Pipeline: Eli Lilly is currently developing its own pill, orforglipron, which could see approval by late March. Unlike Novo’s pill, Lilly’s version may not require the strict “fasting” window before consumption.
Price and Availability
| Feature | Details |
| Release Date | Starter doses available in early January. |
| Standard Price | List prices remain around $1,000/month. |
| Negotiated Price | $149/month for Medicare, Medicaid, and cash-paying users via the TrumpRx site. |
| Administration | Must be taken 30 minutes before food or other drinks. |
Market Outlook
The obesity drug market is projected to reach $150 billion by the next decade. While experts do not expect pills to fully replace injections, they are predicted to capture at least 20% of the market, appealing to travelers and patients who prefer a simpler, non-invasive daily routine.
Novo Nordisk has ramped up production at its North Carolina facility to avoid the supply shortages that previously hampered its injectable products.
