U.S. regulators have green-lit a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, making an oral version of the so-called “skinny jabs” available for the first time.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill made by Scandinavian pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, giving it the edge over American rival Eli Lilly in the race to bring an anti-obesity pill to market.
Lilly manufactures the Mounjaro (Zepbound) drug, while Novo Nordisk makes both Wegovy and Ozempic. Lilly’s oral drug, orforglipron, is still awaiting regulatory approval, with a decision expected by spring of 2026.
Both pills are GLP-1 drugs, which were originally made to treat diabetes and then repurposed when their weight loss effects were discovered. The pills work in the same way as the injectables to mimic the natural hormone that controls weight by creating a feeling of fullness….