UPDATE: FDA approves Wegovy Pills, first oral GLP-1 approved specifically for weight management
Just before the end of 2025, the idea of taking GLP-1 pills instead of injections is one step closer to reality. On December 22, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an oral version of Wegovy (semaglutide), a weight management drug that is currently only available as an injection.
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Wegovy pills contain 25 mg of soglutide and are taken once daily. The Wegovy pill will be available starting in January 2026, the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, announced in a press release.
“As the first oral GLP-1 treatment for patients who are overweight or obese, Wegovy Pill provides patients with a new, convenient treatment option that can help them start or continue their weight loss journey,” Novo Nordisk President and CEO Mike Doustdar said in a press release about the approval. The company also submitted Wegovy Pill to European regulators for approval.
The Wegovy pill is the second GLP-1 pill approved by the federal agency, but the first specifically for weight management. In 2019, the FDA approved Rybelsus, another oral GLP-1 made by Novo Nordisk, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (this fall, the agency also approved Rybelsus to reduce the risk of cardiovascular problems in people with type 2 diabetes).
Results from a clinical trial funded by the drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk, showed that the daily pill was about as effective at losing weight as the injectable version of Wegovy. Trial data showed that after 71 weeks, people taking the Wegovy pill had lost about 13.6% of their overall body weight, while those taking the placebo had lost about 2% of their overall body weight. Many people who took Wegovy pills during the trial experienced similar side effects to those who received GLP-1 injections, such as gastrointestinal problems such as nausea.
More oral GLP-1s may be coming: Eli Lilly and Company, which makes Zepbound and Mounjaro, recently submitted its own semaglutide pill, called orforglipron, to the FDA.
Curious what this all means? Read on to learn everything you need to know about oral GLP-1.
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Are there other oral formulations of GLP-1?
Currently, there are two oral versions of GLP-1 on the market: Rybelsus and Wegovy pills. The FDA approved the drug in 2019 to treat type 2 diabetes, although it is also used for weight loss.
Additionally, in April this year, Eli Lilly announced that their oral formulation of GLP-1 (orforglipron) performed well in clinical trials for type 2 diabetes and weight management. The drugmaker submitted orforglipron for weight management to global regulators this month. It also plans to submit a drug to treat type 2 diabetes in 2026.
In addition to long-term weight management in obese adults, clinical trials have shown oral Wegovy can help overweight people with one or more comorbidities and reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease.
Why do some people choose to take Wegovy by mouth rather than by injection?
There are a variety of reasons why someone might decide to take an oral formulation of GLP-1 like Wegovy, but first and foremost, many people strongly dislike needles.
“Up to 25 percent of patients report anxiety or hesitancy related to injections,” said Dr. Michael Snyder, a physician, obesity expert and medical consultant at FuturHealth. “The oral version eliminates this friction, making it easier for patients to initiate and adhere to treatment.”
Additionally, for people dealing with chronic conditions, “the pill feels more familiar and less medicalized” — which, he notes, can also significantly improve medication compliance and lead to better outcomes over time. “By removing barriers such as needle aversion, oral GLP-1 has the potential to bring this powerful therapy to a wider population and help them maintain success with the right lifestyle support,” said Synder.
Cost is also a major selling point for oral GLP-1, said Dr. Wiljon Beltre, board-certified bariatric surgeon and founder of Beltre Bariatrics. “Oral medications tend to be less expensive than injections, which require a needle and syringe,” he said.
Additionally, daily oral medications can provide more control for patients who are often sensitive to new medications, especially those with gastrointestinal issues, said Dr. Rebecca Emch, Eden’s vice president of pharmacy and medical operations. With the oral formulation, your doctor can more easily adjust the amount you take each day to help control side effects. “The half-life of oral GLP-1 is generally shorter than the half-life of injectables, which means it will be cleared from your system more quickly, which allows for tighter control if you experience side effects,” Emch explained.
Is oral Wegovy as effective as an injection?
Maybe. Oral semaglutide in patients with obesity (OASIS) 1 discussed in an editorial published in August 2025 Journal of the American Medical Association Internal Medicine found that people who took oral GLP-1 solely for obesity, not diabetes, experienced “clinically meaningful” weight loss. These results further suggest that oral tablets may be an effective way to deliver the effects of these drugs without the need for injections.
But Dr. Jennifer Brown, board certified in obesity medicine and family medicine, said more information is needed. Brown noted that a 2024 trial of oral Wegovy at a 25 mg daily dose showed an average weight loss of 13.6%, while in another trial, injectable Wegovy resulted in an average weight loss of about 15%. While the higher dose of oral Wegovy (50 mg) is as effective as injectable Wegovy, the side effects are significantly more severe than the 25 mg oral dose. “There are no direct comparison studies between oral Wegovy and injectable Wegovy,” she said.
It’s also important to note that oral medications and injected medications enter the body differently. “Injected GLP-1 bypasses the gut and goes directly into the bloodstream, which is one of the reasons they are so effective,” Snyder said. “The oral version must be able to survive the digestive process and still elicit similar appetite-modulating and metabolic effects.”
What does having the oral Wegovy option mean for middle-aged women?
Oral Wegovy may help middle-aged women cope with the additional weight management challenges they face. “For midlife women, especially those going through perimenopause and perimenopause, weight gain is more than just a lifestyle choice,” Snyder explains. “It’s associated with hormonal changes, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and a natural decrease in metabolic rate.” This can lead to women feeling trapped, even though they’re “doing everything right” to stay healthy.
Additionally, an oral formulation of Wegovy will expand weight management options for midlife women. “Oral Wegovy offers middle-aged women a more convenient way to lose weight compared to injections – no needles, no refrigeration, no weekly alarm calls and more control,” Brown said.