The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, according to pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
It is the first pill of its type to receive approval from the regulator, marking a new era for weight loss drugs.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer of Wegovy, said the once-a-day pill was a “convenient option” compared to the injectable pill. and would result in the same weight loss as shooting. This comes after Wegovy was approved by the FDA specifically for weight loss.
Others, like Ozempic, which has similar effects on weight loss, have been approved primarily for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The BBC has contacted the FDA for comment.
The Wegovy pill showed an average weight loss of 16.6% in Novo Nordisk’s trials, the company announced Monday.
A third of the approximately 1,300 participants experienced weight loss of 20% or more during the same trial, he adds.
The pill is expected to be launched in the United States in early January 2026.
“Patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, the company’s chief executive officer.
Wegovy’s pill version could provide a boost to Novo Nordisk’s sales after a tough year that saw its shares fall amid profit warnings.
The company has faced intense competition in the weight loss market from rival drugmakers like Eli Lilly.
Shares of Novo Nordisk rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading in New York following the announcement.
