Prime Highlights
- The European Commission approved Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy, the first oral GLP-1 weight-loss medicine in the European Union.
- Clinical trials showed patients taking the pill lost about 17% of their body weight on average.
Key Facts
- Novo Nordisk is a Danish pharmaceutical company focused on diabetes and obesity treatments.
- Oral Wegovy is a once-daily tablet for eligible adults and is used along with diet and exercise.
Background
Novo Nordisk won EU approval for its Wegovy weight-loss tablet, giving Europe its first approved oral GLP-1 treatment. The approval will bolster the company’s position in the expanding obesity treatment market and add a new treatment choice for qualified patients.
Oral semaglutide 25 mg is approved for treating adults with obesity or overweight who have at least one weight-related condition. This medicine is meant to be taken in conjunction with a proper diet and exercise program.
Approval was based on results from clinical trials that showed people taking the Wegovy pill lost an average of approximately 17% of their body weight, while those taking a placebo lost about 3%, Novo Nordisk said. The company said that the safety profile of the pill was also similar to that of injectable semaglutide, as discontinuation rates were comparable between treatment groups.
The approval will give people dealing with obesity a new treatment option, said Chief Executive Mike Doustdar. While injections may be better for some patients, others may prefer a once-daily tablet, he said.
The pills for eating can be taken orally and are already available in the United States, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Novo Nordisk anticipates launching the medicine in other markets in the second half of the year, solidifying its global footprint in the obesity care area.
The new approval also puts Novo Nordisk ahead in the European oral weight-loss medication race, as other products are still navigating the EU regulatory landscape.
