Wegovy in a pill

Wegovy® in a Pill? What a New Study Found About Oral Semaglutide 25 mg

Quick Take

A once-daily semaglutide pill (25 mg)—often described as Wegovy® in a pill, though the name is still pending approval—helped people with obesity lose a meaningful amount of weight in a major study published on September 17, 2025.

What is it?

Semaglutide is a GLP-1 medicine that helps control appetite and reduce cravings. It’s already available as an injection (Wegovy®). This study looked at a pill form taken once a day.

What did the study show?

In a 64-week clinical trial of 307 adults with obesity or overweight (without diabetes), people also received lifestyle support (healthy eating and activity).

• Average weight loss:
  • 16.6% with the semaglutide pill vs 2.7% with placebo (if everyone took the medicine exactly as prescribed).
  • 13.6% with the pill vs 2.2% with placebo (counting real-world missed doses).

• Big losses were common:
  • About 1 in 3 people on the pill lost 20% or more of their body weight (vs about 1 in 30 on placebo).

• Daily life got easier:
  • People reported improvements in everyday activities—bending, standing, walking, and being active—and improvements in several cardiovascular risk factors (like measures linked to heart disease).

These results were similar to what’s been seen with injectable Wegovy® in past studies.

Safety and Side Effects

Side effects were mostly mild to moderate and tended to improve over time. The most common were:

• Nausea (about 47% with the pill vs 19% with placebo)
• Vomiting (about 31% vs 6% with placebo)

About 7% of people on the pill stopped treatment due to side effects (vs 6% on placebo). Serious side effects were less common with the pill (~4%) than with placebo (~9%) in this study. Your individual risks can be different—talk with your healthcare provider.

Important: GLP-1 medicines can have rare but serious risks (for example, certain gallbladder or pancreas problems). They’re not right for everyone, including some people with a history of certain thyroid tumors. Always review your medical history with your clinician.

Is it available now?

Not yet for weight management. Novo Nordisk has submitted the pill to the FDA for chronic weight management. The FDA is reviewing it, and a decision is expected by the end of this year. If approved, production is planned in the United States.

Who might consider it (if approved)?

• Adults with obesity, or overweight with a weight-related health condition
• People who prefer a pill over injections
• Those ready to pair medication with nutrition and activity changes

What to Expect if Prescribed (After Approval)

• Daily pill, taken as directed
• A gradual dose plan to help minimize stomach side effects
• Regular check-ins to track weight, side effects, and labs
• Best results when combined with nutrition and physical activity changes

Bottom Line

A daily semaglutide pill (25 mg) helped many people lose significant weight and feel more capable in daily life, with a side-effect profile similar to injectable Wegovy®. It’s not yet FDA-approved for weight management; if/when it is, it could offer a needle-free option for people who are a good fit.