The FDA approved Novo Nordisk’s first-ever GLP-1 pill for obesity, Wegovy, which will launch in early 2026 at $149 per month. The pill can reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events and mimics the gut hormone GLP-1 to suppress appetite. Novo Nordisk gains a head start over Eli Lilly in the obesity pill market, potentially worth $100 billion by the 2030s.

Novo Nordisk’s pill helped patients lose up to 16.6% of their weight after 64 weeks. It’s slightly more effective than Eli Lilly’s oral drug awaiting FDA approval. Novo Nordisk’s pill requires dietary restrictions, while Eli Lilly’s doesn’t. Novo Nordisk aims to curb illegal sales of unapproved GLP-1s with their affordable pill. Manufacturing is underway in North Carolina to meet demand.

Read more at CNBC: FDA approves first GLP-1 pill for obesity from Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk