Novo Nordisk Secures EU Approval for Oral Wegovy Weight-Loss Treatment

Novo Nordisk has secured European Commission approval for a once-daily pill version of Wegovy, making it the first oral GLP-1 treatment authorised specifically for weight management across the European Union. The decision could significantly expand treatment options for people who are unable or unwilling to use injectable obesity medicines.

The tablet contains 25 mg of oral semaglutide, the same active ingredient used in injectable Wegovy. It has been approved for adults with obesity, defined as a body mass index of at least 30, and adults who are overweight with a BMI of at least 27 and have one or more weight-related health conditions. Treatment is intended to be used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The approval follows a positive recommendation issued by the European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in May 2026. The regulator recommended adding oral tablets as an alternative to Wegovy’s established weekly injection, with approved tablet strengths of 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg to support dose escalation and maintenance treatment.

Evidence supporting the decision included Novo Nordisk’s OASIS clinical development programme. In the 64-week OASIS 4 trial, adults taking the 25 mg tablet lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight when they adhered to treatment, compared with 2.7% among participants receiving a placebo. The study involved 307 adults living with obesity or overweight and at least one related health condition.

The results suggest that an oral GLP-1 treatment may produce weight loss comparable to injectable therapies while offering a potentially more convenient option. However, taking a daily tablet rather than a weekly injection may not suit every patient, and treatment decisions will continue to depend on individual preferences, medical history, tolerability and access.

The authorisation also strengthens Novo Nordisk’s position in the rapidly intensifying obesity-drug market. The Danish company faces strong competition from Eli Lilly and a growing group of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies developing oral and injectable treatments. Novo gained an early advantage after the Wegovy pill became the first oral weight-management GLP-1 approved in the United States in December 2025.

EU approval does not mean the pill will immediately become available in every member state. Launch dates, pricing and reimbursement decisions will vary between markets. Novo Nordisk has previously indicated that it expects to introduce the pill in selected international markets during the second half of 2026.

Nevertheless, the approval represents an important development in obesity care. By removing the requirement for injections, oral Wegovy could encourage more people to discuss medical weight-management options with their physicians and broaden the population willing to begin and potentially remain on GLP-1 therapy.

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