"The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill for obesity on Dec. 22. It's also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in patients who are obese or overweight. The pill follows the blockbuster success of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy injection, which has been on the market since 2021 and became so popular that it was in short supply until February 2025."
"In a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a 25 milligram Wegovy pill led to a 13.6% reduction in weight on average over 64 weeks. Patients taking a placebo in the study lost 2.2% of their weight. For patients who stayed on the treatment, reduced their calorie intake and exercised, Novo Nordisk estimates they would have a 16.6% reduction in their weight."
"However, patients need to take the Wegovy pill on an empty stomach and wait a half hour before eating anything else for the medicine to be properly absorbed. The most common side effects with the Wegovy pill are similar to the injection and include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. When Novo Nordisk announced its drug-pricing deal with the Trump administration in November, it promised to make the obesity pill available for $149 a month to patients not using their health insurance."
FDA approved the Wegovy oral pill for obesity and to reduce heart attack and stroke risk in obese or overweight patients, with the starting dose now available and higher doses arriving soon. Clinical study data show a 25 mg pill produced an average 13.6% weight reduction over 64 weeks versus 2.2% with placebo; combined with sustained treatment, calorie reduction and exercise the estimate rises to 16.6% average weight loss. The pill must be taken on an empty stomach with a 30-minute waiting period before eating. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Direct-to-consumer pricing begins at $149 monthly for the starting dose and $299 for higher doses; the list price is $1,349, while insured patients may pay as little as $25 depending on coverage.
Read at www.npr.org
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