"The Wegovy pill showed roughly similar weight loss and side effects in clinical trials as the Wegovy shot, and will be available by prescription in the US in January, according to Novo Nordisk. "We believe it will expand access and options for patients," Dr. Jason Brett, principal US medical head for Novo Nordisk, told CNN in an interview. "We know there are some patients who just won't take an injectable medication.""
"The starting dose of the Wegovy pill will cost $149 for patients paying out of pocket, under an agreement announced in November with the Trump administration. The drug will likely become pricier via self-pay as doses increase, though Novo Nordisk hasn't disclosed those prices yet. Patients whose insurance covers the medicine will likely have a lower copay."
"Both Wegovy and Ozempic, which mimic the hormone GLP-1, are given as weekly injections, as are rival drugs from Eli Lilly, called Zepbound and Mounjaro. Altogether, about 1 in 8 US adults say they're currently taking one of the medicines, according to data from health policy research group KFF."
FDA approved a daily oral semaglutide pill branded Wegovy, offering a noninjectable option in the GLP-1 class. The pill uses the same active ingredient as the Wegovy injection and Ozempic and produced roughly similar weight loss and side effects in clinical trials, with about 14% average weight loss over 64 weeks versus 2% for placebo. The pill will be available by prescription in the US in January. The starting out-of-pocket price for the initial dose is $149 under a government agreement; higher doses may cost more. A competing oral GLP-1 from Lilly, orforglipron, showed about 11% weight loss in separate trials and may reach market soon.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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