Key Summary
- People who were obese or overweight shed an average of 16.6 percent of their body weight following 64 weeks on the 25-milligram semaglutide GLP-1 pill
- This comes close on heels of Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, announcing that it was developing a weight loss pill
- Novo Nordisk has submitted its oral pill to US regulator Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and expects a decision by the end of the year
Novo Nordisk has claimed that a Wegovy weight loss pill could soon become a reality, following tests that showed it is nearly as effective as its injectable form in helping people lose weight.
The Danish drug maker said during the late-stage trials, people who were obese or overweight shed an average of 16.6 percent of their body weight following 64 weeks on the 25-milligram semaglutide GLP-1 pill.
Novo Nordisk stated that the test results of its oral pill were comparable to those of injectable Wegovy, which also utilises the GLP-1 medication semaglutide.
This comes close on the heels of Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, announcing that it was developing a weight loss pill.
The US drug maker had earlier this week said that its pill, orforglipron, helped reduce blood sugar levels and body weight.
However, during trials, it was found that Eli Lilly's pill wasn’t as potent as weight loss injections currently available in the market.
The competition between the two companies is heating up as pills are considered more convenient to use and expected to be less expensive.
It may be noted that Eli Lilly had recently increased the price of Mounjaro jabs in the UK.
Novo Nordisk has submitted its oral pill to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and expects a decision by the end of the year.
Eli Lilly plans to submit the pill to the US regulator for approval later this year, and some analysts say it could be fast-tracked by the FDA.
In the UK, more than one in four adults is now obese, and this is more than double since the 1990s.
