New Wegovy pill offers needle-free weight loss, but it may not work for everyone

The first oral weight loss drug GLP-1 has been approved for use in the US.

The Wegovy pill, from drug maker Novo Nordisk, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce excess body weight, maintain long-term weight loss, and lower the risk of major cardiovascular events.

The approval of semaglutide 25 mg once daily pill was based on the results of two clinical trials: the OASIS trial program and the SELECT trial.

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The Wegovy pill demonstrated a mean weight loss of 16.6% in the OASIS 4 trial among adults who were obese or overweight and who had one or more comorbidities (other medical conditions), according to a news release. In the same trial, one in three participants experienced weight loss of 20% or more.

Novo Nordisk reported that the weight loss achieved with the pill is similar to that of the injectable Wegovy and has a similar safety profile.

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“With today’s approval of the Wegovy pill, patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk, said in the news release.

“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for people living with overweight or obesity, the Wegovy pill provides patients with a new and convenient treatment option that can help them begin or continue their weight loss journey.”

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Oral GLP-1 is expected to launch in the US in early January 2026. Novo Nordisk also submitted oral semaglutide for obesity to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities.

Dr. Sue Decotiis, a weight loss specialist in New York City, confirmed in an interview with News Digital that studies show oral Wegovy is comparable to the weekly injectable, just without the needles.

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Although the pill may result in better compliance and ease of use, Decotiis cautioned that some patients may not absorb the medication through the gastrointestinal tract, as with the injectable version, due to individual idiosyncrasies of the body.

“Most side effects will be GI-related and should be similar to the injectable, such as nausea, vomiting and constipation,” he said.

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“In my practice, I have found that tirzepatide (Mounjaro and Zepbound) produces greater weight and fat loss than semaglutide by approximately 20%,” the doctor added. “This has been shown in studies, often [with] fewer side effects.”

According to Decotiis, more oral GLP-1s may arrive in 2026, including an application for Orforglipron from Lilly and a new drug combination from Novo Nordisk, which is pending approval late next year.

“There will be more new medications available in the future that will be more effective for patients who are more insulin resistant and have not responded as well to semaglutide and/or tirzepatide,” the doctor said. “This is great news, as new drugs that affect more receptors mean better long-term outcomes in more patients.”

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As these medications become cheaper and more easily accessible, Decotiis emphasized that maintaining healthy lifestyle habits (including proper nutrition with enough protein and fiber, as well as increased hydration) is essential to ensure long-lasting results.

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“If not, patients will regain weight and may lose muscle and not enough body fat,” he said.

News Digital has contacted Novo Nordisk for comment.