FDA Approves First Daily Oral Weight Loss Pill Wegovy, Marking a Milestone in Obesity Treatment
On December 22, 2025, the FDA approved the Wegovy pill, developed by Novo Nordisk, as the first daily oral treatment for obesity. This approval gives Novo Nordisk an advantage over competitor Eli Lilly, whose oral weight loss drug orforglipron remains under FDA review.
The Wegovy pill contains 25 mg of semaglutide, the same dosage found in the injectable versions of Wegovy and Ozempic as well as in Rybelsus. Clinical trials demonstrated that oral Wegovy led to an average weight loss of 13.6% over approximately 15 months compared to 2.2% for placebo, while the injectable formulation achieved about 15% weight loss in the same timeframe.
By comparison, Eli Lilly's orforglipron, administered at its highest dose, resulted in an average weight loss of around 11.2% versus 2.1% in placebo groups over roughly 17 months. Meanwhile, another drug, Zepbound (tirzepatide), showed approximately 21% average weight loss in trials.
Common side effects reported across GLP-1 drug treatments, including Wegovy, orforglipron, and tirzepatide, are nausea and diarrhea. The Wegovy pill must be taken with water on an empty stomach with a 30-minute waiting period before eating, whereas orforglipron has no dosing restrictions and benefits from a priority review voucher program.
The initial reported cost for the Wegovy pill is $149 per month at some providers, with full pricing details expected in January. However, weight loss drugs in this class can often cost $1,000 or more per month.
