Wegovy pill approved by US FDA for weight loss

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the pill version of the weight loss drug Wegovy. pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.

This is the first pill of its kind to receive regulatory approval, marking a new era for weight loss drugs.

Wegovy’s Danish manufacturers, Novo Nordisk, said the once-daily pill was a “viable option” over injectable pills and will provide the same weight loss as the shot. It comes after Wegovy was approved by the FDA specifically for weight loss.

Others, such as Ozempic, with similar weight-loss effects, are 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% during Novo Nordisk’s trials. the company said On Monday.

One-third of about 1,300 participants experienced a weight loss of 20% or more in the same trial, he added.

The pill is expected to launch in the US in early January 2026.

“Patients will receive a convenient once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, the company’s CEO.

Wegovy’s pill version could provide a boost to Novo Nordisk’s sales after a tough year that saw its shares fall as it warned about profits.

The company has faced intense competition in the weight loss market from rival drugmakers such as Eli Lilly.

Shares of Novo Nordisk rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading in New York following the announcement.