Overview
- The pill contains semaglutide and is approved for adults with obesity or overweight, including an indication to reduce major cardiovascular events in patients with established cardiovascular disease.
- Phase 3 data showed average weight loss of roughly 14% to 17% over 64 weeks versus about 2% to 3% with placebo, with 76% of patients losing at least 5% of body weight.
- Patients take the tablet once daily on an empty stomach with a small amount of water and wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking, or taking other medicines, with doses titrated from 1.5 mg to a 25 mg maintenance dose.
- Gastrointestinal effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were most common, about 7% stopped treatment due to side effects, and the FDA retained a thyroid tumor warning with contraindications for medullary thyroid carcinoma and MEN2 and cautions for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- Novo Nordisk plans broad U.S. availability through pharmacies and select telehealth providers including TrumpRx, while Eli Lilly’s rival oral GLP-1, orforglipron, remains under FDA review and was studied without food or water restrictions.