Overview
- Novo Nordisk’s oral semaglutide logged 18,410 U.S. prescriptions in its first full week after the Jan. 5 launch, topping early trajectories for prior GLP‑1 rollouts, according to IQVIA data cited by analysts.
- The FDA‑cleared pill is now available in the U.S. and, when taken as directed, produced weight loss similar to the injectable in separate trials, though it requires morning dosing on an empty stomach with a 30‑minute wait before eating.
- Reported side effects mirror the injection’s predominantly gastrointestinal profile, and the pill is approved only for adults, whereas the injectable is also authorized for adolescents aged 12 and older.
- Regulatory momentum is building for rivals, with an FDA decision on Eli Lilly’s oral GLP‑1 orforglipron expected by April as multi‑agonist contenders such as CagriSema, VK2735, MariTide, and Lilly’s tri‑agonist retatrutide post strong trial results.
- India’s DCGI approved Sun Pharma to market a generic semaglutide injection, to be sold as Noveltreat after patent expiry in March 2026, highlighting expanding global access and intensifying competition.