Novo Nordisk has announced that the first, and so far the only oral GLP-1 drug for body weight regulation, has arrived on the market. Wegovy tablets are taken once a day and are available only with a doctor’s prescription.
People who are prescribed therapy can pick it up at pharmacies across the country or get it through telemedicine platforms, which have made this type of therapy more accessible and easier to use, but at the same time, regulated.
Novo Nordisk officially introduced Wegovy tablets with an unprecedented launch model, making the new therapy available simultaneously across all key distribution channels. As stated by Dove Moore, the company’s CEO for the US market, this GLP-1 drug has been included in commercial health insurance plans from day one, is available in major retail pharmacies, and can be purchased through telemedicine platforms.
Oral Wegovy received official approval from the US Food and Drug Administration in December, making it the first GLP-1 weight loss drug in pill form. The primary active substance in this drug is Semaglutide, which acts by slowing stomach emptying and reducing appetite, directly contributing to weight reduction and improving the treatment of obesity. Due to its practicality and lower logistical requirements, the Wegovy tablet is increasingly cited as a significant alternative to injectable GLP-1 therapies. Unlike weekly injections, this therapy is taken daily, does not require refrigeration, is easier to manufacture, and is more comfortable for most patients to use, making it a more accessible therapeutic option for daily practice.
According to the manufacturer’s guidelines and recommendations, Wegovy tablets should be taken at least 30 minutes before any other therapy, food, or drink, including coffee. If the drug is covered by health insurance, patients’ monthly copayments are expected to be up to $25. For patients without insurance, the cost of oral Wegovy depends on the dose strength and ranges from $149 to $299 per month.
By comparison, the one-weekly injectable version of Wegovy without insurance costs more than $300 per month, clearly indicating the difference in cost and affordability of the oral therapy option. The results of scientific studies and clinical trials in humans show that oral GLP-1 therapy achieves reductions in body mass comparable to those of injectable forms. Trail participants using the tablet have a similar profile of side effects, with gastrointestinal complaints such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting being the most commonly reported, Novo Nordisk said.
At the same time, the development of oral forms of GLP-1 drugs is becoming increasingly competitive. Eli Lilly, one of Novo Nordisk’s primary competitors, is developing its own GLP-1 therapy, Orforglipron, in tablet form, which is expected to receive US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in the near future and become available to patients diagnosed with obesity.
