Huge impact starting on new 'game-changer' Wegovy weight loss pill could have compared to jabs
It's the first and only GLP-1 pill available
Weight loss drugs have made a significant advancement as Wegovy is now available in pill form for people who don't want to jab themselves with a needle.
GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have surged in popularity due to their appetite-suppressing powers, which have allowed a lot of people to lose weight and reap the health benefits from slimming down.
These drugs work by telling the brain that the stomach is full, while they also help boost insulin release, reduce glucagon and slow the emptying of the stomach.
With a reduced appetite, the idea is that you lose weight and for a lot of people, that's how it has gone.
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The drugs are so effective that Wegovy and Mounjaro can now be prescribed by the NHS.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, has taken the next step and just this week, released a version of the drug in pill form.
They are selling their 1.5 milligram and 4mg weight loss pills to self-paying patients in the United States, which can be purchased for $149 a month.
Higher doses of the pill, with 9mg and 25mg, will be expected to pay $299 a month; all of these prices are assuming you don't have insurance for it, otherwise they will be significantly cheaper.
Clinical trials of the Wegovy pill showed similar results on weight loss as the injectable form of the drug, as well as a similar range of side effects.
The Wegovy pill got the FDA approval back in December, and weight loss clinic physician Dr Christopher McGowan told NBC it represented 'a meaningful step forward in the field'.
The doctor explained that having weight loss drugs in pill form could help the medication have a greater impact, as people are more used to taking pills instead of injecting themselves.
"It won’t replace injectables, but it broadens our tool kit in an important way. Pills are familiar, non-intimidating and fit more naturally into most people’s routines," he said.
While the pill has launched in the US, there are still reviews going on in the UK, so it may be a while before it's available on this side of the pond.
Novo Nordisk said: "Wegovy pill is here, and it represents a significant innovation as the first and only GLP-1 pill for weight loss.
"This moment is about changing what's possible in weight management, and to make that possible, we have worked to ensure Wegovy pill is affordable and accessible to those who need it.
"However, they choose to receive their care.”
Joe Harker