Key facts
- The Wegovy pill is semaglutide 25 mg taken by mouth once a day, the same GLP-1 medicine as the weekly Wegovy shot, made absorbable with the enhancer SNAC.[1]
- The FDA approved Wegovy tablets on 22 December 2025 under NDA 218316, for weight management and for cutting cardiovascular risk in adults.[2][1]
- In the 64-week OASIS 4 trial, people on the pill lost 13.6% of body weight on average against 2.4% on placebo (label figure).[1]
- It must be taken on an empty stomach with up to 4 ounces of water, then 30 minutes with no food, drink or other oral medicines.[1]
- Self-pay is $149 to $299 a month by dose, against $349 for most pen doses. DBR Labs does not sell Wegovy in any form.[8]
What Is the Wegovy Pill?
The Wegovy pill is a once-daily semaglutide tablet from Novo Nordisk, sold in four strengths from 1.5 mg to a 25 mg maintenance dose, and Novo calls it the first oral GLP-1 medicine approved for obesity in the US.[1][5]
| Feature | Wegovy pill (tablets) | Wegovy shot (injection) |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine | Semaglutide with SNAC[1] | Semaglutide[1] |
| Strengths | 1.5, 4, 9 and 25 mg[1] | 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.7, 2.4 and 7.2 mg[1] |
| Usual maintenance dose | 25 mg[1] | 2.4 mg (up to 7.2 mg)[1] |
| How often | Once a day, by mouth[1] | Once a week, under the skin[1] |
| Food and water rules | Empty stomach, up to 4 oz water, wait 30 min[1] | Any time of day, with or without meals[1] |
| Weight loss in its label trial | -13.6% vs -2.4% placebo at 64 weeks (OASIS 4)[1] | -14.9% vs -2.4% placebo at 68 weeks, 2.4 mg (STEP 1)[1] |
| Self-pay price | $149 to $299 a month[8] | $349 a month (7.2 mg: $399)[8] |
| First US approval | 22 Dec 2025[2] | 4 Jun 2021[4] |
Semaglutide is a peptide, a GLP-1 analogue. Each tablet adds salcaprozate sodium (SNAC) to help it be absorbed in the stomach, and even so the label puts absolute bioavailability at only about 1% to 2%.[1] That helps explain why the pill dose (25 mg a day) is far larger than the shot dose (2.4 mg a week). For every GLP-1 tablet side by side, see GLP-1 pills compared; for the diabetes tablet with the same molecule, see what is Rybelsus.
Is the Wegovy Pill FDA Approved, and Who Is It For?
Yes. The FDA approved Wegovy tablets on 22 December 2025 (NDA 218316, a new dosage form of semaglutide) for adults with obesity, or overweight plus at least one weight-related condition, alongside diet and exercise.[2][3][1]
- Weight management. To reduce excess body weight and keep it off long term in adults with obesity, or overweight with at least one weight-related condition, together with a reduced-calorie diet and more physical activity.[1]
- Heart risk. To reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, non-fatal heart attack or non-fatal stroke) in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight.[1]
- Adults only. The tablets are indicated for adults; the injection is also approved from age 12 for obesity and for a liver disease (MASH) indication the tablets do not carry.[1]
- Type 2 diabetes. The label says the tablets have not been studied for weight reduction in adults with type 2 diabetes, and OASIS 4 excluded people with diabetes.[1][6]
- Not combined with other GLP-1 drugs. The label does not recommend using it with other semaglutide products or any other GLP-1 receptor agonist, and it is contraindicated with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN 2.[1]
Novo said the approval rested on the OASIS 4 trial and that the pill was approved only in the US at that point.[5] The FDA has since approved several label supplements; the latest, supplement 7 on 18 June 2026, updated the labelling and Medication Guide.[3]
Wegovy Pill Results: OASIS 4
In OASIS 4, 307 adults without diabetes took the 25 mg pill or placebo for 64 weeks, and the pill group lost 13.6% of body weight on average against 2.4% on placebo, a difference of 11.2 percentage points.[1]
FDA label Table 11, intention-to-treat (everyone randomised, whether or not they kept taking the pill). Wegovy pill 25 mg, n = 205.
| Measure | Wegovy pill 25 mg | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Participants | 205[1] | 102[1] |
| Starting weight | 106.4 kg[1] | 104.8 kg[1] |
| Mean weight change (label) | -13.6%[1] | -2.4%[1] |
| Mean weight change (NEJM paper) | -13.6%[6] | -2.2%[6] |
| If everyone stayed on treatment (Novo) | -16.6%[5] | -2.7%[5] |
| Lost 10% / 15% / 20% or more | 59.8% / 47% / 27.9%[1] | 14.4% / 5.5% / 3.1%[1] |
| Waist size change | -12.2 cm[1] | -2.8 cm[1] |
- Why two placebo numbers. The FDA label reports placebo at -2.4%, and the NEJM paper reports -2.2% (difference -11.4 points). Both are from the same trial; the gap comes from different statistical handling of missing data. The pill figure is -13.6% in both.[1][6]
- Trial design. The dose was raised over 12 weeks to 25 mg, then held for 52 weeks, with diet and activity counselling for everyone. Average starting BMI was 38.[1]
- Staying on it. 18% of people stopped the pill during the trial, against 25.5% on placebo.[1]
- Quality of life. Physical function scores on the IWQOL-Lite-CT questionnaire improved more on the pill than on placebo.[6]
How to Take the Wegovy Pill
Take one tablet each morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces (about half a glass) of plain water, swallow it whole, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.[1][9]
- Step 1: on waking. Novo suggests taking it right after getting out of bed, before anything else.[9]
- Step 2: water only, up to 4 oz. No coffee, juice or other liquids with the tablet.[1]
- Step 3: swallow whole. Do not split, crush, chew or dissolve it.[1]
- Step 4: wait 30 minutes. No food, drinks (Novo names coffee) or other oral medicines until 30 minutes have passed.[1][9]
- One tablet a day. If a dose is missed, the label says to skip it and take the next dose the following day.[1]
The rules exist because semaglutide is absorbed mainly in the stomach. In label studies, absorption was higher with 50 mL of water than with 240 mL, and higher the longer people waited before eating (15 to 120 minutes were tested); 50 mL and 120 mL made no clinically significant difference.[1] Taking it with a full glass of water or with breakfast can mean less of the drug gets in.
Is the Wegovy Pill as Effective as the Shot?
Close, in separate trials: the 25 mg pill gave 13.6% average weight loss at 64 weeks (OASIS 4) and the 2.4 mg weekly shot gave 14.9% at 68 weeks (STEP 1), each against 2.4% on placebo; no head-to-head trial is on the label.[1][10]
| Measure | Pill 25 mg daily (OASIS 4) | Shot 2.4 mg weekly (STEP 1) |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 64 weeks[1] | 68 weeks[1] |
| Participants on drug | 205[1] | 1,306[1] |
| Mean weight change | -13.6%[1] | -14.9%[1][10] |
| Placebo | -2.4%[1] | -2.4%[1] |
| Lost 10% or more | 59.8%[1] | 66.1%[1] |
| Lost 15% or more | 47%[1] | 47.9%[1] |
- Same drug levels, more spread. The label predicts that blood levels on the 25 mg pill are comparable to the 2.4 mg weekly shot in people without diabetes, but more variable: 90% of people fell between 27 and 186 nmol/L on the pill against 51 and 110 nmol/L on the shot.[1]
- The shot goes higher. The injection can be raised to 7.2 mg weekly, which gave 18.8% at 72 weeks against 15.5% for 2.4 mg and 3.9% for placebo in the same trial (Study 8 on the label).[1] The pill tops out at 25 mg.[1]
- Switching is on the label. From the 2.4 mg shot, the 25 mg pill starts one week after the last injection; from the 25 mg pill, the 2.4 mg shot starts the next day.[1]
- Diabetes is different. In type 2 diabetes, semaglutide levels on the 25 mg tablet are lower than on the 2.4 mg shot, and the label suggests the 1.7 mg injection if more weight loss is needed.[1]
The trade-off is daily routine against a weekly injection: the pill needs the fasting routine every morning, while the shot can be taken any time on the same day each week, with or without meals.[1] For the other once-daily pill, which has no food rules, see Foundayo vs the Wegovy pill.
Wegovy Pill Doses
The pill starts at 1.5 mg once daily and steps up every 30 days to 4 mg and 9 mg, reaching the 25 mg maintenance dose from day 91.[1]
| Days | Daily tablet | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 30 | 1.5 mg | Starting dose[1] |
| 31 to 60 | 4 mg | Escalation[1] |
| 61 to 90 | 9 mg | Escalation[1] |
| 91 onward | 25 mg | Maintenance[1] |
The slow climb is there to reduce stomach side effects, and the label allows delaying a step if a dose is not tolerated.[1] Novo says the full effect is usually seen at 25 mg.[9] Missed doses, switching and dose questions are covered in the Wegovy pill dosage guide.
Wegovy Pill Side Effects
Gut side effects are the most common: in OASIS 4, 74.0% on the pill had a GI adverse event against 42.2% on placebo, and nausea affected 46.6% against 18.6%.[6][7]
| Measure | Wegovy pill 25 mg | Placebo |
|---|---|---|
| Any GI adverse event | 74.0%[6] | 42.2%[6] |
| Nausea | 46.6%[7] | 18.6%[7] |
| Vomiting | 30.9%[7] | 5.9%[7] |
| Constipation | 20.1%[7] | 9.8%[7] |
| Diarrhoea | 17.6%[7] | 8.8%[7] |
| Stopped because of adverse reactions | 6.9%[1] | 5.9%[1] |
The label carries a boxed warning on thyroid C-cell tumours seen in rodents and warns about pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, severe GI reactions, kidney injury from dehydration, low blood sugar with insulin or sulfonylureas, heart rate increase and aspiration under anaesthesia. Altered skin sensations (dysaesthesia) are also listed.[1] Breastfeeding is not recommended on the tablets.[1] The full breakdown is in the Wegovy pill side effects guide.
Wegovy Pill Price
Self-pay, the Wegovy pill costs $149 a month for 1.5 mg, $199 for 4 mg and $299 for 9 mg or 25 mg (30 tablets), according to wegovy.com on 8 November 2026.[8]
- With commercial coverage, Novo says people may pay as little as $25 a month (maximum saving $100 a month; government beneficiaries excluded).[8]
- Through the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, eligible Part D patients pay $50 a month for any dose of the pill or pen, 1 July 2026 to 31 December 2027.[8]
- For the pen, new patients pay $199 a month for the first two fills of 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg (through 31 December 2026), then $349 a month for 0.25 mg to 2.4 mg and $399 for 7.2 mg. At full self-pay prices, the 25 mg pill is $50 a month less than the 2.4 mg pen.[8]
Prices can change. For every pricing route and how it compares with other GLP-1 medicines, see the Wegovy pill price guide.
Wegovy Pill vs Eloralintide
They act on different hormones: the Wegovy pill is an approved daily GLP-1 tablet that gave 13.6% weight loss at 64 weeks, while eloralintide is an investigational weekly amylin injection that gave up to 20.1% at 48 weeks in phase 2.[1][11]
Eloralintide is in phase 3 testing (the ENLIGHTEN programme) and is not approved.[12][13] The two numbers come from separate trials with different phases, lengths and analysis methods, so they are not a direct comparison. DBR Labs supplies eloralintide as a research peptide for laboratory use only. For the full profile see what is eloralintide and eloralintide vs semaglutide; for non-GLP-1 approaches, see GLP-1 alternatives, and for Lilly’s GLP-1 pill, what is orforglipron.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Wegovy pill?
The Wegovy pill is oral semaglutide, a once-daily tablet from Novo Nordisk with a 25 mg maintenance dose. It contains the same GLP-1 medicine as the weekly Wegovy shot, plus an absorption enhancer called SNAC. The FDA approved it on 22 December 2025 for weight management and cardiovascular risk reduction in adults.
Does oral Wegovy work?
In its main trial, yes. In OASIS 4, adults without diabetes who took oral Wegovy 25 mg for 64 weeks lost 13.6% of body weight on average, against 2.4% on placebo, and 59.8% lost at least 10%. Results vary from person to person, and the trial combined the pill with diet and activity counselling.
What are the Wegovy pill results?
At 64 weeks in OASIS 4: an average 13.6% weight loss (placebo 2.4%), 47% of people losing at least 15% and 27.9% losing at least 20%, and a 12.2 cm smaller waist on average. Novo reports 16.6% for people who stayed on treatment the whole time.
How to take the Wegovy pill?
Take one tablet each morning on an empty stomach with no more than 4 ounces of plain water. Swallow it whole, then wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking anything else, or taking other oral medicines. Take no more than one tablet a day.
Is the Wegovy pill as effective as the shot?
Nearly, in separate trials. The 25 mg pill gave 13.6% average weight loss at 64 weeks and the 2.4 mg weekly shot gave 14.9% at 68 weeks, both against 2.4% on placebo. The shot can also be raised to 7.2 mg, which gave 18.8% at 72 weeks. No head-to-head trial of pill against shot appears on the label.
Is the Wegovy pill as effective as the injection?
The FDA label predicts that semaglutide blood levels on the 25 mg pill are comparable to the 2.4 mg weekly injection in people without diabetes, though they vary more from person to person. In type 2 diabetes, levels on the pill are lower, and the label suggests the 1.7 mg injection if more weight loss is needed.
What are the Wegovy pill instructions?
Start at 1.5 mg once daily for 30 days, then 4 mg for days 31 to 60, 9 mg for days 61 to 90 and 25 mg from day 91. Each morning, take it fasting with up to 4 ounces of water and wait 30 minutes before food, drink or other pills. If a dose is missed, skip it and take the next one the following day.
Is Wegovy available in pill form?
Yes. Wegovy comes as a weekly injection and, since the FDA approval on 22 December 2025, as a once-daily tablet in 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg and 25 mg strengths. Both forms contain semaglutide and need a prescription.
What do Wegovy pill before and after results look like?
The trial data is the most reliable guide. In OASIS 4, people started at about 106 kg on average and lost 13.6% over 64 weeks, which works out to about 14.5 kg from a 106.4 kg start; waist size fell by 12.2 cm. About one in four (27.9%) lost 20% or more, and others lost much less.
What do Wegovy pill reviews say?
This page does not summarise personal reviews. In the OASIS 4 trial, the most reported problems were nausea (46.6%) and vomiting (30.9%), 6.9% stopped because of side effects against 5.9% on placebo, and physical function scores on a weight-related quality-of-life questionnaire improved more on the pill than on placebo.
Sources
- FDA. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets prescribing information, revised 06/2026 (NDA 218316, supplement 7)
- FDA. Drugs@FDA, NDA 218316 (Wegovy tablets) approval history
- openFDA Drugs@FDA record, NDA 218316 (Wegovy tablets): approval 22 Dec 2025, products and marketing status (checked 8 Nov 2026)
- openFDA Drugs@FDA record, NDA 215256 (Wegovy injection): original approval 4 Jun 2021 (checked 8 Nov 2026)
- Novo Nordisk US press release, 22 Dec 2025: FDA approves Wegovy pill (checked 8 Nov 2026)
- Wharton S, et al. Oral semaglutide at a dose of 25 mg in adults with overweight or obesity (OASIS 4). N Engl J Med 2025;393(11):1077-1087. DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2500969
- ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05564117 (OASIS 4), posted results and adverse events (checked 8 Nov 2026)
- Novo Nordisk, What to pay for Wegovy (page code US26SEMO01787 October 2026, checked 8 Nov 2026)
- Novo Nordisk, Taking Wegovy pill (page code US26SEMO01787 October 2026, checked 8 Nov 2026)
- Wilding JPH, et al. Semaglutide STEP 1. N Engl J Med 2021;384:989-1002. DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183
- Eli Lilly press release, 6 Nov 2025: eloralintide phase 2 results
- ClinicalTrials.gov NCT07321886, ENLIGHTEN-1
- Eli Lilly Q3 2026 results, 29 Oct 2026
For research use only. Not for human or veterinary consumption. This guide summarises published research for information only. It is not medical advice and does not describe any use of products sold on this site.