"I Didn't Want Injections, This Is Great" Now Lose Weight with One Pill a Day ... FDA Approves Oral Wegovy

Lilly Also Preparing Weight Loss Pill

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first oral version of Wegovy. Observers suggest that the obesity treatment market, which is currently dominated by weekly injectable glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, could undergo significant changes.

According to Yonhap News Agency on December 23, the U.S. FDA has granted approval for the sale of the oral form of Wegovy (semaglutide 25mg, once daily) developed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. With this approval, Wegovy is poised to take the lead in the oral pill segment of the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) obesity treatment market.

On March 8, 2024, boxes of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic were displayed at a pharmacy in London, United Kingdom. Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News Agency

Semaglutide works by mimicking the gut hormone GLP-1, which reduces appetite, increases feelings of fullness, and slows the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines, thereby inducing weight loss.

Wegovy Pill is designed to be taken once daily, with a planned launch in early next year and a price set at $149. This is among the most affordable options compared to similar obesity treatments, attributed to the relatively low production cost of pills. Industry experts believe this move will allow Novo Nordisk, which recently lost its lead in the obesity drug market to Eli Lilly, to regain momentum in the competition.

David Risinger, an analyst at Leerink Partners, projected that oral obesity treatments could account for about 25% of the obesity drug market, which is expected to reach $150 billion (approximately 222.15 trillion won) in the long term.

Currently, the GLP-1 obesity drug market is effectively dominated by Novo Nordisk and the U.S. pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.

Eli Lilly is also preparing to launch the oral drug Orforglipron as a follow-up to its obesity treatment Zepbound, and FDA approval is anticipated.

Meanwhile, side effects of this class of obesity drugs include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, and individuals with cardiovascular disease or underlying health conditions are advised to consult with a healthcare professional.