First GLP-1 Oral Pill for Weight Loss Available to Consumers

As of Jan. 5, the first and only oral glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) pill approved for weight loss is available to consumers by prescription.

The pill is available at more than 7,000 U.S. pharmacies, including CVS and Costco, as well as several popular telehealth providers, such as Ro, LifeMD and Weight Watchers.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oral Wegovy pill, which contains the active ingredient semaglutide, for the treatment of obesity and weight management on Dec. 22, 2025. While Rybelsus is another FDA-approved GLP-1 oral medication, it is only approved to reduce cardiovascular risk in adults with Type 2 diabetes. Rybelsus is sometimes prescribed off-label for weight loss.

In a Phase III clinical trial, the Wegovy pill resulted in an average weight loss of 16% in participants who took the medication over 64 weeks.

This latest FDA approval marks a shift in obesity treatment. Weekly injections that can spur significant weight loss currently dominate the market. While the pill forms of GLP-1 drugs appear to be somewhat less potent, they are likely more convenient to take, which could substantially broaden the use of GLP-1s for weight loss. Wall Street analysts predict that GLP-1 drugs—both injectable and oral—will generate annual sales exceeding $100 billion by 2030.

About the Wegovy Pill

Like the injectable version of Wegovy, its pill form also requires a prescription from a doctor. The oral Wegovy pill is a semaglutide medication available in multiple doses, including a 1.5 milligram (mg) “starter dose,” 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg. It should be taken 30 minutes before any other medication, food or coffee.

According to the drug manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, the Wegovy pill is expected to have a copayment of $25 or less per month if covered by insurance. Without insurance, the price varies by dosage, ranging from $149 to $299 per month.

In addition, GoodRx announced that it will help consumers access the Wegovy pill at various pharmacies for its lowest price of $149 per month at the 1.5 mg and 4 mg dosages.

For More Information

According to KFF, 1 in 8 Americans are already taking a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. The new Wegovy pill likely represents an incoming era of even more widespread access to GLP-1 weight loss drugs. Furthermore, Novo Nordisk’s weight loss pill could soon be joined by Eli Lilly’s experimental GLP-1 pill (orforglipron), which succeeded in late-stage testing in 2025.

The popularity of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss continues to rise, so employers can stay up to date on developing prescription drug market trends to help them stay educated and inform their benefits decisions. We’ll keep you updated with any notable developments. Contact us if you need additional information.