Novo Nordisk Launches the Wegovy Pill for Weight Loss
- Jan 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 28
In a landmark shift for the more than 100 million Americans living with obesity, Novo Nordisk has officially launched the Wegovy® pill, the first and only oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss. Approved by the FDA on December 22, 2025, the once-daily semaglutide tablet offers a needle-free alternative to the injectable treatments that have dominated the market since 2021.
The pill’s launch is backed by the OASIS 4 phase 3 clinical trial, which demonstrated that patients could achieve an average weight loss of approximately 17% over 64 weeks when adhering strictly to the treatment alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. Even when accounting for patients who may not have remained on the treatment throughout the study, the average weight loss was recorded at roughly 14%, compared to just 2% for the placebo group.
To ensure broad distribution, Novo Nordisk is collaborating with Sesame, a leading cash-pay healthcare platform. This partnership allows patients to connect directly with healthcare providers for virtual or in-person appointments to obtain prescriptions without the traditional hurdles of insurance carriers. The Wegovy® pill is now available through 70,000+ U.S. pharmacies, including CVS and Costco, and through various telehealth providers.
Pricing for the new medication has been designed to lower the barrier to entry. The starting dose (1.5 mg) is available for $149 per month.
The financial sector has reacted positively to these developments. Goldman Sachs reaffirmed its "Buy" rating for Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO), raising its price target as the company’s stock saw a 5.09% increase following the launch news. Analysts point to the company’s robust market capitalization of $277.1 billion as a sign of continued leadership in chronic disease care.
While revolutionary, the medication carries significant safety warnings. The most common side effects reported are gastrointestinal issues, such as nausea and diarrhea. Crucially, the product includes a boxed warning regarding potential thyroid tumors, based on rodent studies, and is contraindicated for patients with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma. Patients are encouraged to consult healthcare providers to determine if the pill is appropriate for their specific medical profile.
🔖 Sources
Keywords: Wegovy Pill
Wegovy Pill
Comments