6 Things to Know About the New GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill

A GLP-1 pill for weight loss is now on the market. On Monday, drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched a pill version of Wegovy, which the company has until now only offered as a weekly injectable, alongside Ozempic. The new pill, taken once a day and available by prescription, is the first alternative to injectable GLP-1 medications for weight loss.

“This is an exciting and very promising development in obesity care: an effective oral GLP-1 with significant weight loss results expands access in a way we have never had before,” said Arti Thangudu, MD, board-certified endocrinologist and founder of Complete Medicine. Health. “The shelf stability, easier storage and potential for price improvement, combined with strong clinical results, make this a win for patients.” »

Here are six important things to know about the Wegovy pill.

Like other GLP-1 medications, the Wegovy pill promotes weight loss by activating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptors, which play a role in regulating blood sugar and appetite. These medications slow digestion, helping you feel full longer, and tell your brain that you are satisfied, thereby reducing hunger.

The pill version of Wegovy contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as the injectable medication, and appears to be just as effective. In a recent trial, patients taking the pill lost an average of 13.6% of their body weight after 64 weeks, compared to about 2% for the placebo group. In a 2021 study of semaglutide injections, participants lost an average of 14.9% of their weight after 68 weeks.

Be prepared that it will take a few months before you start seeing results from the GLP-1 pill, said Rozalina McCoy, MD, a practicing endocrinologist and associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Health. Unlike injections which pass directly into the bloodstream, tablets must first be digested. As a result, the oral medication requires a much higher dose: 25 milligrams (mg), compared to 2.4 mg for injections.

McCoy said she doesn’t expect patients to lose much weight until about the third month, compared to just a few weeks for those who use the injection. The recommended dosage regimen starts at 1.5 mg in the first month, increases to 4 mg in the second month, then increases to 9 mg before finally reaching 25 mg, the highest dose (and the one used in the study mentioned above).

McCoy said she had hoped a GLP-1 pill would be more affordable than the shots, which are sold in pen form that cost more to produce, ship and store than tablets. However, the current price of the Wegovy pill is about the same as the injections. For insured patients, the 25 mg dose is available for as little as $25 per month, the same price as the injectable version. Without insurance, the cost rises to $299 per month, or $50 less than injections.

“It was, I admit, a little disappointing,” McCoy said. “But it’s a start. It’s the first. As it becomes more widely used and more orals become available, I hope the cost will continue to come down.”

In clinical trials, patients taking the Wegovy pill reported side effects similar to those of the injection, including nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Both versions of semaglutide slow digestion, which can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Other common side effects include headache, fatigue, dizziness and heartburn.

Weekly Wegovy injections can be taken at any time, but the treatment regimen is more specific. It is recommended to take Wegovy pill in the morning on an empty stomach and wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medications. This timing is to ensure that the pill is properly absorbed, McCoy explained. Otherwise, people “might have more gastrointestinal side effects, or it might not work as well,” she said.

As with any GLP-1 medication, it is also important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to get the most benefit from the Wegovy pill. That means eating well-balanced, nutritious meals, drinking enough water, and exercising vigorously to preserve muscle and bone while losing weight, McCoy advised. McCoy also emphasized that obesity is a chronic disease and once you start a GLP-1, you will need to continue taking it to maintain the weight.

It’s true that the Wegovy pill is the only GLP-1 tablet approved for weight loss, but another semaglutide pill, Rybelsus, is already on the market, with the green light only for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. And another GLP-1 weight-loss pill is also on the way: Eli Lilly, maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro and competitor to Novo Nordisk, is developing a tablet called orforglipron, which is expected to receive FDA approval this spring.