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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a once-daily Wegovy (semaglutide) pill for weight loss, making it the first oral glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) medication approved for this purpose in the U.S. Until now, Wegovy was only available as a weekly injection.
The new tablet offers a needle-free alternative that may make treatment feel more accessible for many people. In clinical trials, the pill led to weight loss results that were broadly comparable to injectable Wegovy.
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Wegovy is a prescription medication that contains semaglutide. It belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists. These medications mimic a natural hormone that helps regulate appetite, slow digestion, and increase feelings of fullness.
Wegovy is approved for adults diagnosed with obesity or for adults with an overweight body mass index (BMI) score who also have weight-related health conditions, such as high blood pressure. Wegovy is prescribed alongside reduced-calorie eating and increased physical activity.
In addition to supporting weight loss, Wegovy is also approved to reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, in adults with established heart disease and higher body weight.
Semaglutide has traditionally been given by injection because the medication is difficult for the body to absorb through the stomach. Digestive enzymes can break it down before it has a chance to work.
The Wegovy tablet is formulated with an absorption enhancer that helps semaglutide be absorbed in the stomach, allowing the medication to be taken once daily by mouth instead of as a weekly injection.
The FDA approval of the Wegovy pill was based on results from a phase 3 clinical trial called OASIS 4. For 64 weeks, the study followed 307 adults who were diagnosed with obesity or who were overweight with at least one weight-related condition. People with diabetes were not included in this trial.
Participants who took the Wegovy pill daily for the entire trial and stuck to a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan lost an average of about 17 percent of their body weight. When researchers looked at results regardless of whether participants stayed on treatment the entire time, average weight loss was about 14 percent.
By comparison, people who took a placebo lost about 2 percent to 3 percent of their body weight. These results are similar to weight loss levels previously reported with injectable Wegovy in clinical studies.
The most common side effects reported with the Wegovy pill were similar to those seen with the injectable version. These included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain.
More serious side effects — such as inflammation of the pancreas, gallbladder problems, low blood sugar in people taking certain diabetes medications, and a boxed warning about possible thyroid tumors — are also the same as those listed for injectable Wegovy.
As with any medication, side effects vary from person to person. A healthcare provider can help you weigh the potential benefits and risks based on your health history.
The approval of a needle-free Wegovy option opens the door for people who haven’t been able to tolerate injections or who have avoided treatment because of them. Having both a pill and an injection available may offer more flexibility when discussing weight management options.
If you’re curious about whether the Wegovy pill could be an option for you, a healthcare provider can help you decide what fits best with your needs, preferences, and overall health.
On MyObesityTeam, people share their experiences with weight loss treatments, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Would you feel more comfortable with a daily pill or a weekly injection — and why? Let others know in the comments below.
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