Overview
- Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy launched in U.S. pharmacies Jan. 5, with IQVIA counting 3,071 retail prescriptions in the first week and Symphony showing roughly 4,290 in the first full week, figures that exclude some telehealth and direct channels as analysts flagged a solid start and shares rose.
- The U.K. MHRA authorized a maximum 7.2 mg weekly injectable Wegovy dose for adults with obesity, administered as three 2.4 mg injections on the same day, excluding overweight patients and those using the drug for cardiovascular risk reduction.
- Clinicians note the pill delivers weight loss comparable to injections but requires strict administration first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with up to 4 oz of water, followed by at least a 30‑minute wait before food, drink or other medications.
- Out‑of‑pocket costs vary widely, with many insured patients paying about $25 per month and uninsured estimates around $149–$299, as broad pharmacy and telehealth distribution — including Amazon Pharmacy — expands access but leaves coverage decisions uneven.
- Doctors caution about known gastrointestinal side effects and rare risks such as thyroid tumors and pancreatitis, warn against cheaper compounded versions sold online, and watch global pricing pressures as semaglutide patents lapse in countries like Canada, allowing generics.