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The first GLP-1 medicine to be produced in a daily pill format has launched in the United States, with manufacturer Novo Nordisk claiming the move “opens new possibilities” for Americans living with obesity. 

The Wegovy tablets come in 1.5mg, 4mg, 9mg and 25mg dosage strengths, with a phase 3 clinical trial that included 307 adults showing that among those who were prescribed the highest strength and remained on the treatment, an average of 16.6 per cent in body weight was lost. 

Commonly reported side effects during the trial included nausea, diarrhea and vomiting – similar to those reported by patients using injectable GLP-1 RAs, said the manufacturer. 

The Wegovy pill is now “broadly available” from over 70,000 US pharmacies following regulatory approval on December 22, said Novo Nordisk, adding that the price to private patients ranges from $149 a month to $299 a month depending on the dosage. 

“Commercially insured patients pay as little as $25 a month with the Wegovy savings offer,” the company said, though this is not available to “government beneficiaries”.

Ed Cinca, senior vice president of marketing at Novo Nordisk, commented: “We know there are people who are interested in addressing their weight but have been waiting on the sidelines for a medicine that was right for them.  

“For many of them, that wait is over as we can now offer the powerful efficacy of Wegovy in a once-daily pill that demonstrated about 17 per cent weight loss, if all patients stayed on treatment.”

For now, the product is only approved in the US. The MHRA is currently reviewing Novo Nordisk’s application to launch the product in the UK market, with a decision on whether to approve the drug expected before the end of the year.