Bottom line: A 71-week, double-blind trial of 307 participants found a once-daily 25 mg oral semaglutide pill produced an average 16.6% weight loss versus 2.7% for placebo — results comparable to weekly Wegovy injections. About one-third of pill users lost >20% of body weight. Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea and vomiting) were more frequent with the pill. Pending FDA approval and recent U.S. price reductions, an effective oral option could substantially expand access to obesity treatment.
Needle-Free Ozempic? Daily Semaglutide Pill Nearly Matches Wegovy Injection in Major Trial
Bottom line: A 71-week, double-blind trial of 307 participants found a once-daily 25 mg oral semaglutide pill produced an average 16.6% weight loss versus 2.7% for placebo — results comparable to weekly Wegovy injections. About one-third of pill users lost >20% of body weight. Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea and vomiting) were more frequent with the pill. Pending FDA approval and recent U.S. price reductions, an effective oral option could substantially expand access to obesity treatment.
10:33 PM, 11/12/2025Health
Daily semaglutide pill shows promise as an alternative to weekly injections
Weight-loss medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic have transformed care for many people with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Novo Nordisk — the maker of Wegovy — has released results of a 71-week, double-blind randomized trial testing a once-daily 25 mg oral formulation of semaglutide. The findings suggest the pill may offer comparable weight-loss benefits to the weekly Wegovy injection while adding an oral option for patients who prefer not to inject.
Key trial results
The trial enrolled 307 participants: 205 received the oral semaglutide and the remainder received a placebo. On average, people taking the pill lost 16.6% of their body weight, compared with a 2.7% loss in the placebo group — a difference similar to reported results for the weekly injectable formulation. About one-third of pill recipients lost more than 20% of their body weight.
Side effects and tolerability
Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common adverse events. Nausea was reported by 46.6% of participants on the pill versus 18.6% on placebo; vomiting was reported by 30.9% versus 5.9% on placebo. Some participants discontinued the trial because of side effects. Overall, the safety profile resembled that of injectable semaglutide, though the oral group experienced higher rates of GI complaints in this study.
Background and context
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist whose origins trace back to exendin-4, a peptide discovered in the venom of the Gila monster. Initially developed for type 2 diabetes, semaglutide was found to suppress appetite and produce substantial weight loss, leading to its approval and use for obesity as Wegovy and for diabetes as Ozempic (among other brand names). Injectable formulations have produced average weight reductions in the range of about 15% in some trials.
Access, cost and implications
Cost and access have been major barriers: these drugs have typically cost about $1,000–$1,350 per month. Recent U.S. negotiations reportedly reduced prices to roughly $50–$350 per month depending on dose and insurance — a change that could greatly expand access. Fewer than 2% of Americans with obesity currently receive prescription obesity medications; an effective oral option combined with lower prices could markedly increase uptake.
Company comment: Martin Holst Lange of Novo Nordisk said the company hopes the tablet will meet patient preference for oral therapy and, pending FDA approval, that supply will be sufficient to meet expected U.S. demand and set a new benchmark for oral obesity medicines.
What to watch next
The pill’s approval status is still pending with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Clinicians and regulators will be watching longer-term safety, tolerability, and comparative effectiveness versus injected formulations. If approved and broadly available at lower prices, an oral semaglutide could change how many people access effective obesity treatment worldwide.