Wegovy weight loss pill now available: How to get it and the cost

Americans now have access to the pill form of weight loss medication Wegovy, Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk announced on Monday.

The oral GLP-1 weight loss medication for adults used to treat obesity was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December. It’s the first and only FDA-approved oral pill that serves as an alternative to the injectable versions of Wegovy and Ozempic, both of which contain the active ingredient semaglutide.

Novo Nordisk says the pill version is cheaper to produce and doesn’t require refrigeration compared with its weekly injection version, making the drug more accessible, convenient and an alternative for people who have an aversion to needles.

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The daily oral Wegovy pill, much like the injectable version, is designed to be “used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity for adults with obesity, or with overweight who also have weight-related medical problems, to help them lose weight and keep it off,” according to a Novo Nordisk press release.

The drugmaker also claims the medication can “reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease.”

How does it work?

The pill is an oral semaglutide that acts like a hormone — GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) — that regulates appetite, helping to control how much food you eat. The medication works similarly to the hormone, curbing appetite and, therefore, prompting weight loss.

You have to take the pill daily, 30 minutes before any other medication, food or coffee, Novo Nordisk says.

What is the average weight loss from the pill?

Novo Nordisk reports similar weight loss results during clinical trials from people who used the oral medication and the injectables. During phase III of its clinical trials for the pill, patients lost approximately 14% of their body weight in combination with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise. Those who stayed on the treatment lost about 17% of their body weight compared with patients who received a placebo, who lost about 3% of their body weight.

Are there any side effects of the oral medication?

The Wegovy drugmaker says that the side effects of the oral medication are similar to those observed in clinical trials for the injectable version, which include nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.

How do you get it?

The Wegovy pill is only available in the U.S. with a doctor’s prescription. Patients can pick it up at pharmacies nationwide, such as CVS and Costco, or consumers can have it delivered through select telehealth companies like Ro, LifeMD and Weight Watchers, NovoCare Pharmacy, GoodRx and others, according to the drugmaker.

What are the costs?

If the oral medication is covered by insurance, patients can expect a $25 or less co-pay per month.

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If the oral medication isn’t covered by insurance, the price can vary by dosage and range between $149 and $299, according to Novo Nordisk.

For comparison, the injectable version of Wegovy can cost around $300 per month without insurance.

Are there any other manufacturers planning to release a GLP-1 pill?

A competitor of Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly, is also manufacturing its version of an oral GLP-1 pill, orforglipron. It’s currently under review by the FDA and is also expected to be approved this year for consumer access.

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