Prescriptions for the new Wegovy weight-loss pill are skyrocketing, with early demand for the drug far surpassing initial demand for Ozempic.
David Moore, the president of Novo Nordisk US, said on an investor call Wednesday that early uptake of the oral pill was more than twice that of any previous weight-loss drug in the US, and more of the prescriptions ‘appear to be patients new to these medications,’ he said.
By January 23, less than three weeks after the pill hit the market, 50,000 prescriptions were being filled a week and more than 170,000 people were taking the drug.
The pill, an oral form of the injectable weight-loss drug semaglutide in Wegovy, was approved by the FDA in December and available to the public in early January.
It is available in 1.5 mg and 4 mg doses. Soon, Novo will make it available in 9 mg and 25 mg doses.
The injectable Wegovy costs about $1,350 per month, with some doses costing up to $2,000. Some savings plans offer the medication for $349 monthly.
The 4 mg pill costs $149 for self-pay patients, but will increase to $199 in April and the higher-dose pills will be priced at $299 per month.
Despite the popularity, new users are reporting subpar results.
The pill is available in 1.5 mg and 4 mg doses. Soon, Novo will make it available in 9 mg and 25 mg doses
On a Reddit threat titled /WegovyPillWeightLoss, one patient said they had lost 2.5lbs of ‘water weight’ in three days, adding they actually preferred the injectable Zepbound because of its superior results.
It received hundreds of responses.
One person said: ‘I’m on day 3 and absolutely feel nothing yet.’
Another added: “Two weeks in and no change here.’
Others said they didn’t notice a change in their appetite.
Though people on it for longer, however, have reported reduced food noise and cravings.
On the plus side, posters added, they have minimal side effects, with the most common reported being nausea.
Novo has reported that nine in 10 prescriptions were paid for out of pocket, rather than paid for through insurance.
The pill is increasingly becoming more appealing for its lower price and the fact that it is needle-free and you don’t have to inject it.
Eli Lilly, which manufactures Mounjaro, is expected to receive FDA approval in the next several months.
About 31 million Americans, or one in eight, are estimated to have used weight-loss drugs at least once, and Novo is hopeful the launch of its new weight-loss pill brings in even more customers.
The injectable Wegovy costs about $1,350 per month, with some doses costing up to $2,000. Some savings plans offer the medication for $349 monthly, however
On the investor call, Novo executives also said they believe some of the early demand for the pill is coming from people who were on unapproved compounded, or ‘copycat’ semaglutide, which costs less than FDA-approved drugs.
Despite increased demand for the pill, Novo predicted a sharp decline in sales this year as it grapples with more effective competitors and new policies from the president.
Shares of the Danish company fell as much as 18 percent Wednesday after it warned that ‘unprecedented’ pricing policies would likely lead to a decline in sales and profits in 2026.
Novo predicted a decline of eight to 13 percent this year, ending the company’s massive profitable run.
It attributed the drop to President Donald Trump’s drive to slash drug costs, as well as an increase in competition in the weight-loss drug space and the loss of key patent protections.
New policies could see the drugs’ prices drop from more than $1,000 per month to just a few hundred dollars.
However, Eli Lilly forecasted 2026 profits.
Novo CEO Mike Doustdar said the 2026 forecast ‘reflects a year of unprecedented pricing pressure,’ but hoped that the ‘painful’ impact would be an ‘investment for our future.’
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Will pills replace injectables in the weight-loss race?
