The Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a daily pill version of Novo Nordisk's blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy that the company said will be available early in the new year.
Why it matters: It's the first oral GLP-1 drug approved for weight loss and could provide a more convenient and cheaper alternative to the injectable version.
- The 1.5-milligram starting dose will be available in early January for $149 per month, Novo Nordisk said in a news release.
The big picture: The Danish drugmaker said participants in a 64-week clinical trial saw an average weight loss of about 17% if they stayed on the daily pill, reduced their calorie intake and increased exercise.
- That's compared to 3% average weight loss among trial participants who received a placebo.
Between the lines: The active ingredient in oral Wegovy will be manufactured in North Carolina, Novo Nordisk said.
Novo Nordisk and its rival Eli Lilly have waged a two-horse race to dominate the anti-obesity market, with an eye toward expanding to patients who may feel uncomfortable with using an injectable drug.
- The pills are expected to be easier to make, reducing the chances of shortages that have plagued the sector.
- "We are confident and ready to meet demand so patients can count on timely access to Wegovy pill," Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations, said in a statement.
