Published on
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved semaglutide tablets as the first oral GLP-1 medicine for obesity in adults. According to a press release, the once-daily pill is also indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events including death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with overweight or obesity and cardiovascular disease. Previously only available as an injectable, semaglutide’s oral formulation could expand treatment for patients who are reluctant to use an injectable medication, according to manufacturer Novo Nordisk. A 64-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that included 307 adults without diabetes but with obesity or overweight with 1 or more weight-related comorbidities demonstrated that a daily semaglutide dose of 25 mg along with a reduced calorie diet and exercise achieved an average weight loss of 16.6% vs 2.7% with placebo. Side effects include nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting—similar to the injectable formulation of semaglutide.
Direct to consumers: The manufacturer is offering 1.5 mg and 4 mg doses at $149 per month for self-paying patients. Base prices for most injectable GLP-1 drugs are about $1,000 per month, and insurance coverage varies widely. Pharmaceutical manufacturers of GLP-1 drug treatments and some major pharmacies have recently reduced prices in the increasingly competitive weight-loss market. The market is forecasted to grow with another oral GLP-1 drug from competitor Eli Lilly expected later this year after FDA approval.