The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a tablet version of the weight loss drug Wegovy, reports pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk.
It is the first pill of its kind to receive regulatory approval, ushering in a new era of weight loss drugs.
Wegovy's Danish manufacturer Novo Nordisk said the once-daily tablets were a “convenient alternative” to injectable drugs. and will provide the same weight loss as the shot. This comes after Wegovy was approved by the FDA specifically for weight loss.
Other drugs, such as Ozempic, which have similar weight-loss effects, were primarily approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The BBC has contacted the FDA for comment.
The Wegovy tablet showed an average weight loss of 16.6% during Novo Nordisk trials. the company said on Monday.
In the same study, a third of about 1,300 participants lost weight by 20% or more.
The tablet is expected to be launched in the US in early January 2026.
“Patients will receive a convenient, once-daily pill that will help them lose weight just like the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Dustdar, the firm's chief executive.
A tablet version of Wegovy could give Novo Nordisk sales a boost after a difficult year in which its shares fell on profit warnings.
The company faced stiff competition in the weight-loss market from rival drugmakers such as Eli Lilly.
Following the announcement, shares of Novo Nordisk rose nearly 10% in after-hours trading in New York.
