India Pharma Outlook Team | Monday, 19 January 2026
Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill is off to a promising start in the U.S. weight-loss drug race, data and market reaction show.
The once-daily oral GLP-1 weight-loss medicine, launched this month after FDA approval late last year, has drawn solid early U.S. prescription numbers, giving investors reason to cheer as Novo fights for market share against rival Eli Lilly.
Early figures covering only the first few days of prescriptions reveal demand that analysts call “encouraging,” helping lift Novo’s stock as the new pill hits pharmacies nationwide. The launch marks a key shift in how weight-loss drugs reach patients, moving from weekly injections to a daily tablet that many people may prefer.
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Novo Nordisk priced the Wegovy pill to attract new users and broaden access. Self-pay patients can buy the starting dose for about $149 a month, with higher doses up to $299 monthly. The oral option is available at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies and via telehealth services, offering a potentially cheaper, easier alternative to injectables that can cost much more.
Clinical data show the oral pill delivers significant weight loss, with patients in trials shedding roughly 17% of body weight when sticking with treatment. That’s similar to results seen with the injectable version and could help draw in people who have avoided GLP-1 drugs because of injections.
The weight-loss pill rollout also adds a fresh dimension to Novo’s competition with Eli Lilly, whose own oral obesity drug is expected to seek FDA approval in the coming months. Market watchers say the early lead could be crucial as demand, pricing, and patient access take center stage in this fast-evolving sector.
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