American health authorities have authorized a first tablet version of the renowned anti-obesity treatment Wegovy, thus offering a first alternative to the injections used for weight loss.
The approval should make access to these already very popular weight loss treatments easier and are considered revolutionary by many experts, writes AFP.
With the approval of Wegovy tablets by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients will have a practical solution available, in the form of a tablet that is taken once a day and can help them lose weight as much as the original Wegovy injection,” said Mike Doustdar, president of Novo Nordisk, in a press release.
This tablet will now be authorized for weight loss and long-term weight maintenance for adults suffering from obesity or overweight individuals with at least one weight-related comorbidity, such as a heart problem, the Danish pharmaceutical company specified.
Less Costly Option
The news was welcomed by the American Obesity Care Advocacy Network, which supports patients suffering from obesity, a chronic disease affecting approximately 40% of adults in the United States.
"This decision represents an important opportunity for people living with obesity, offering them an alternative to those who hesitate to start injectable therapy and providing a potentially less costly option," the network stated in a press release sent to AFP.
In November 2025, Novo Nordisk signed an agreement with the US government proposing the tablet treatment starting at a price of $150 (127 euros) per month, much lower than the current cost of injectable versions.
The cost of the latter, which includes popular treatments like Ozempic and Zepbound, can indeed exceed $1,000 per month in the United States, posing a barrier for many patients.
The Danish company did not disclose further details about the final price, but stated its intention to market the new tablets in the United States starting in January 2026.
Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound are part of a new class of medications initially developed to combat diabetes and mimic the gastrointestinal hormone GLP-1, which plays a significant role in appetite regulation.
Under Review in Europe
Due to the significant weight loss they promise, these treatments have experienced considerable growth in recent years, especially in the United States, where approximately eight in ten Americans use them, according to a recent survey by the health-focused KFF think tank.
After being developed as injectable solutions, they are on the way to being adapted into tablet form, especially to facilitate their administration.
These treatments have been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) in combating obesity, a chronic disease and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, certain types of cancer, and medical complications that constitute a global health scourge.
They also hold much promise in the medical field, with researchers exploring numerous other avenues for possible actions of these treatments against various diseases, especially kidney-related or even against addictions.
The tablet version of the Wegovy medication, now authorized in the United States, is also under review by other regulatory authorities, including the European Medicines Agency (EMA), Novo Nordisk company specified.
American health authorities had already approved another tablet version of these successful treatments, but not for weight loss.