Wegovy Pill: FDA Approves First Oral GLP-1 for Obesity
- * FDA Approval: The FDA has approved the first GLP-1 pill (Wegovy - semaglutide) for weight loss.This offers a needle-free alternative to injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and...
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* FDA Approval: The FDA has approved the first GLP-1 pill (Wegovy – semaglutide) for weight loss.This offers a needle-free alternative to injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegs.
* Intended Use: The Wegovy pill is approved for adults who are overweight or obese and have at least one related health problem. It’s also approved to reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in those with heart disease who are overweight or obese.
* effectiveness: Studies show the Wegovy pill is roughly as effective as the injectable version. In a 64-week clinical trial (OASIS 4):
* Participants lost an average of 13.6% of their starting body weight with Wegovy, compared to 2.2% with a placebo.
* ~80% of Wegovy users lost at least 5% of their starting weight.
* 50% lost at least 15% of their starting weight.
* ~30% lost at least 20% of their starting weight (“super responders”).
* Dosage & Cost: The starting dose of 1.5 mg will be available in early January and costs $149 per month. Prices for higher doses haven’t been announced.
* Existing Semaglutide Pill: A semaglutide pill (Rybelsus) already exists, but is only FDA-approved for treating diabetes, with a maximum dose of 14mg.