On December 22nd, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide tablet, a 25 mg dose of the same active ingredient found in injectable Wegovy and Ozempic. Marketed under the brand name Wegovy, the tablet is authorized for chronic weight management in adults with obesity or who are overweight and also have at least one related health condition. This approval expands the potential patient base and strengthens Novo Nordisk’s position against rival Eli Lilly, as demand grows for effective obesity treatments amid rising healthcare costs. Novo Nordisk stated that the Wegovy pill will be available in January 2026. The Wegovy pill is priced slightly less than the injection, with a flat wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) of $16,413 annually for the pill versus $17,537 for the injection for all doses. Regarding the direct-to-consumer (DTC) market, Novo Nordisk made an agreement with the Trump administration for a $149 monthly cost for the initial dose; however, full details have not yet been announced, including what the cost of the recommended 25 mg maintenance dose will be and whether there are any limitations on the initial $149 price.
