The popular weight loss injections Wegovy have now introduced pills for the first time but they won't come cheaply.
Back in 2025, we saw an explosion in popularity of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy after it was discovered that they inadvertently led to significant weight loss among users.
All three medicines were designed as treatments for people with Type 2 diabetes, but it turned out to be perfect for those looking to lose weight, as they work to boost insulin release, reduce glucagon, slow the emptying of the stomach and also signal to the brain to reduce appetite.
Naturally, when your body is feeling fuller for longer and you're eating less, weight loss is bound to follow and despite the many other side effects associated with the drugs, they've become commonplace among celebrities and content creators who are striving for skinniness.
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While in the UK, the NHS has made it clear that Mounjaro will only be available to those who meet strict restrictions and who are at a dangerous weight, the US has now approved Wegovy pills for general sale.
Novo Nordisk confirmed today (5 January) that its 1.5 milligram and 4mg weight loss pills will now be available to self-paying patients in the United States, for the small price of $149 a month.
It had been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on 22 December, in what became the first ever daily oral medication to treat obesity to be approved by the FDA.
Ed Cinca, senior vice president, Marketing & Patient Solutions at 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.”
However, anyone wishing to purchase the highest doses available of the pill, which come at 9mg and 25mg, will have to pay $299 a month. The price of the smaller dose is also expected to rise to $199 from April 2026.
“This is a meaningful step forward in the field,” Dr. Christopher McGowan, a gastroenterologist who runs a weight loss clinic in Cary, North Carolina, told NBC News. “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 added.
While the pills might be expensive, there's no doubting how effective they can be, considering people in the trials were losing a significant amount of weight while on them, including one doctor who shed 40lb.
The issue therefore lies with cost, side effects and exactly how to keep the weight off once you've weaned yourself off the drug, as that's something which has caused a lot of issues for GLP-1 users in recent times.
James Moorhouse