This should literally make American's healthier and less reliant and costly on healthcare plans, thereby reducing costs. Be interesting to see how this is framed as a negative by Democrats.


https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/22/health/wegovy-pill-glp1-weight-loss-drugs

Quote:

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The US Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a daily pill version of Novo Nordisk's weight-loss drug Wegovy, introducing a new option for how patients can take medicines in a class of drugs that has revolutionized obesity treatment.
The drug, which Novo Nordisk calls simply the Wegovy pill, uses the same active ingredient semaglutide that powers the original Wegovy, along with its sister drug for diabetes, Ozempic.

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Quote:

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"We believe it will expand access and options for patients," Dr. Jason Brett, principal US medical head for Novo Nordisk, told CNN in an interview. "We know there are some patients who just won't take an injectable medication." The starting dose of the Wegovy pill will cost $149 for patients paying out of pocket, under an agreement in November with the Trump administration.

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Good Trump!

Are the pills going to be gold?

captkirk said:

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Are the pills going to be gold?

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Yes, and we call them "Trump Pills" now.

$150 per pill?

JB99 said:

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$150 per pill?

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No per monthly supply

MemphisAg1 said:

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Good Trump!

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Any administration would have approved this pill and Trump certainly didn't do it himself. But go for it

$150 will buy quite a few Big Macs or Popeyes so creating quite the dilemma, just sayin.

Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

A new medicine that is supposed to specifically attack fat and other problems with the liver to reduce its size is
Rezdiffra. Price for 100 Mg tablets for a 30 day supply is $1697 with insurance or $4740 Cash. So that really limits the market for improving liver health, before cirrhosis sets in. Not sure how potentially bad the side effects are?

gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

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I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

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I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

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I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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I will do my own research on this, but looking into this is part of my job right now. Any tips to where you found your data, even if it's a general direction, would be appreciated.

I have found a couple of papers in PubMed, but looking for as much data as I can find.

It literally in the product package inserts. I'm sure Grok can summarize it for you

Say goodbye to your gallbladders.

My personal count of people I know taking this or ozympic that have had their gallbladders removed is now up to four.

No such thing as a magic (golden) pill.

FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

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The injection is 15% effective and the pill is 14%…

FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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The Wegovy pill isn't Rybelsus. Same active semiglutide but higher dosage and formulation. Just like the difference between Wegovy and Ozempic.

They can't "sell it" because its literally never been on the market yet.

BusterAg said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

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I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

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I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

---

I will do my own research on this, but looking into this is part of my job right now. Any tips to where you found your data, even if it's a general direction, would be appreciated.

I have found a couple of papers in PubMed, but looking for as much data as I can find.

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He's confusing Rybelsus with this new pill. They are not the same thing.

Gordo14 said:

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MemphisAg1 said:

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Good Trump!

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Any administration would have approved this pill and Trump certainly didn't do it himself. But go for it

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Nonsense, and you know it.

lol. You guys.

Gilligan said:

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Say goodbye to your gallbladders.

My personal count of people I know taking this or ozympic that have had their gallbladders removed is now up to four.

No such thing as a magic (golden) pill.

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are they upset that they had to lose their gallbladder?

or happy they are now looking like Amy Schumer?

Inflation

FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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When you have constant diarrhea then it hard to gain weight.

FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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Just a quick search but it appears that the oral formulation has very similar weight loss and side effects to injectible.

AI CLIP:

As of my last update in early 2023, Wegovy (semaglutide) was approved as a once-weekly injectable, not a pill. However, a daily oral pill formulation
of semaglutide for weight management was in advanced clinical development and has since been approved in some regions, though it's important to
differentiate it from the injectable Wegovy.
Assuming you're asking about the oral semaglutide specifically for weight management (marketed as
Rybelsus for diabetes, but used off-label or in higher doses for weight management under another name in future approvals):
Here's a summary of the
medical data for oral semaglutide for weight management, primarily based on the OASIS 1 trial (a key Phase 3 trial for the oral formulation):
Key
Findings & Efficacy:

Significant Weight Loss: Oral semaglutide at a 50 mg daily dose demonstrated substantial and clinically meaningful weight loss compared to placebo. In the OASIS 1 trial:Participants receiving oral semaglutide 50 mg experienced an average weight loss of approximately 15.1%(around 15 kg or 33 lbs) over 68 weeks.
This was significantly greater than the placebo group, which had a minimal weight loss of around 2.4%.


High
Proportion of Responders: A large percentage of individuals achieved significant weight loss:
Around 85% of participants on oral semaglutide 50 mg
achieved at least 5% body weight reduction.
Approximately 69% achieved at least 10% body weight reduction.
Around 50% achieved at least 15% body
weight reduction.


Improved Cardiometabolic Markers: Similar to the injectable formulation, oral semaglutide also showed improvements in various
cardiometabolic parameters, including:
Reduction in waist circumference.
Improvements in blood pressure.
Lowering of HbA1c (in individuals with
prediabetes or type 2 diabetes).
Improvements in lipid profiles.


Mechanism of Action: Oral semaglutide, like its injectable counterpart, is a GLP-1
receptor agonist. It works by:
Mimicking the GLP-1 hormone, which regulates appetite and food intake.
Increasing feelings of fullness and
satiety.
Reducing hunger and cravings.
Slowing gastric emptying.



Safety and Side Effects:

Gastrointestinal (GI) Side Effects are Common: The most
frequently reported side effects are GI-related, consistent with other GLP-1 RAs:
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation are the most
common.
These are generally mild to moderate in severity and tend to decrease over time as the body adjusts to the medication (especially with gradual
dose escalation).


Serious Adverse Events: Less common but potential serious adverse events include:
Pancreatitis: A rare but serious risk,
consistent with other GLP-1 RAs.
Gallbladder-related issues: Including cholelithiasis (gallstones).
Thyroid C-cell tumors: A black box warning
regarding a potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors (specifically medullary thyroid carcinoma or MTC) based on rodent studies. It's contraindicated in
patients with a personal or family history of MTC or in patients with Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2). The relevance to humans is
still being studied.


Hypoglycemia: Risk of hypoglycemia is low in non-diabetic individuals but can occur if used with other glucose-lowering
medications (e.g., insulin or sulfonylureas in diabetic patients).
Kidney Injury: Acute kidney injury and worsening of chronic renal failure have been
reported, sometimes requiring hemodialysis, in patients treated with GLP-1 RAs; a causal relationship has not been established.

Administration and
Dosing:

Oral semaglutide for weight management is taken once daily.
It requires specific administration instructions: taken on an empty stomach with
a small amount of water (no more than 4 ounces), at least 30 minutes before the first food, drink, or other oral medications of the day. This is
crucial for its absorption.
The dose is gradually titrated upwards over several weeks to minimize GI side effects, reaching the target dose of 50 mg
daily.

Comparisons to Injectable Wegovy:

The 50 mg oral semaglutide dose achieved comparable weight loss to the 2.4 mg injectable Wegovy in clinical
trials (around 15% body weight reduction). This suggests it offers a similar level of efficacy.
The primary differentiator is the route of
administration (oral pill vs. subcutaneous injection), offering a preference for patients who dislike injections.
The safety profile and side effects
are largely similar, with GI issues being predominant for both.

Important Considerations:

Oral semaglutide for weight management is intended for
long-term use, typically alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
It's generally prescribed for individuals with obesity (BMI
30 kg/m) or overweight (BMI 27 kg/m) with at least one weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia).

In
summary, the medical data for oral semaglutide for weight management shows it to be a highly effective medication for significant weight loss, with a
safety profile consistent with other GLP-1 receptor agonists, primarily characterized by common but usually manageable gastrointestinal side
effects.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult with a
healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment. The specific brand name and availability for the oral semaglutide 50mg for weight management may vary
by region and approval status.

doubledog said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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When you have constant diarrhea then it hard to gain weight.

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Sit down commodians?

The Lilly pill works better, but nothing (for now) will be as effective for weight loss as the injectables.

In any case the pills are going to be for maintenance once you've lost 80 pounds and don't want to jab yourself anymore. They will work great for that.

I think he had confused Rybelsus with this new pill. Rybelsus was much less effective than Wegovy for weight loss. But Rybelsus was an oral formulation for Ozempic replacement, not Wegovy. This new pill is meant to be an oral Wegovy.

amercer said:

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The Lilly pill works better, but nothing (for now) will be as effective for weight loss as the injectables.

In any case the pills are going to be for maintenance once you've lost 80 pounds and don't want to jab yourself anymore. They will work great for that.

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That's not accurate. The new Wegovy pill is only 1% less effective than the injectable Wegovy and is designed as a starting dose to replace the injectables. Like the injectable it will require a titration in different pill strengths as you take it.

Teslag said:

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amercer said:

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The Lilly pill works better, but nothing (for now) will be as effective for weight loss as the injectables.

In any case the pills are going to be for maintenance once you've lost 80 pounds and don't want to jab yourself anymore. They will work great for that.

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That's not accurate. The new Wegovy pill is only 1% less effective than the injectable Wegovy and is designed as a starting dose to replace the injectables. Like the injectable it will require a titration in different pill strengths as you take it.

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So if no one here ever learns anything else about clinical development, just remember that you can never compare different clinical trials to each other. Just too many variables.

Also, for as overweight as most people are, these companies are looking for really really obese people to put in their trials. In the real world, the pills aren't going to work as well as the injections. That's not to say that they aren't miraculous drugs (or that for some people actually staying on the pills won't be easier)

I did sleep at a holiday inn express last night.

FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

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Damn, so you know your stuff.

I do remember watching a report on how oral pill weren't anywhere near as effective as the injection. And a 6% body weight reduction isn't much different than when people lose weight initially when they get on Effexor.

I think the studies themselves show the pills aren't as effective as the injectables, but they do show to be damn close. And much, much cheaper. It's likely many insurance companies will approve the pill but not the more expensive injectable.

No Spin Ag said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

---

Damn, so you know your stuff.

I do remember watching a report on how oral pill weren't anywhere near as effective as the injection. And a 6% body weight reduction isn't much different than when people lose weight initially when they get on Effexor.

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Again, he didn't know his stuff because he literally confused the medications in question. This is a new medication, it is not Rybelsus.

That may be true. Lilly has a big advantage there too, as theirs is a small molecule and the cost of goods will be way less. But Novo got to the market first. Will be interesting to see if they learned anything from the last round where they botched the rollout and let Lilly lap them .

amercer said:

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The Lilly pill works better, but nothing (for now) will be as effective for weight loss as the injectables.

In any case the pills are going to be for maintenance once you've lost 80 pounds and don't want to jab yourself anymore. They will work great for that.

---

But it they're not as effective at keeping people from eating as much as the injectables, won't people gain weight because their mind isn't being told to not eat as much as before?

I mean, I see people taking the injectables now gaining and losing 10 - 20 pounds throughout the year, either because they stop taking the injection or keep taking it but eat more because they are tired of not enjoying things they used to.

Either way, it'll be interesting to see what comes from those taking the pills.

Now if it were just covered by insurance, that would help even more people and at a lower cost.

Teslag said:

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No Spin Ag said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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gkaggie08 said:

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FIDO*98* said:

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Oral Semaglutide doesn't have near the same weight loss results and significantly more side effects. They're giving is away because they can't sell it. More window dressing

---

I have no reason to not believe you. But I also have no reason to believe you. I'm not a doctor or biomedical scientist. Care to post some evidence for your claim?

---

I've spent my entire career in Endocrinology in Pharma and now Device. Rybelsus shows 6% body weight reduction over 12mo vs 15% with Ozympic. 98mg weekly vs 2% for Ozympic. The poor absorption orally leads to the additional GI side effects. Doctors don't use oral Semaglutide unless there are circumstances such as sever needle phobia. Patients are also far less compliant with daily vs weekly medication schedules

---

Damn, so you know your stuff.

I do remember watching a report on how oral pill weren't anywhere near as effective as the injection. And a 6% body weight reduction isn't much different than when people lose weight initially when they get on Effexor.

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Again, he didn't know his stuff because he literally confused the medications in question. This is a new medication, it is not Rybelsus.

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My bad.

Whatever you are on, you have to stay on for life. (Which means actually taking every dose which is an incredible challenge for pretty much any drug for a chronic condition)

I think the hope is that once the weight is off, a lower dose (and maybe less effective) daily pill can work for maintaining weight loss.