Novo Nordisk to sell Wegovy in vials and daily pill formats

Novo Nordisk is broadening the ways patients will receive its flagship weight-loss drug Wegovy, moving beyond injection pens to offer vial presentations and a daily oral tablet as it scales manufacturing and distribution.

The company plans multiple device presentations, including vials, and has indicated that some vial presentations are expected to launch in 2026 and others later. Company statements and filings show an aggressive rollout across formats that industry analysts say will reshape access to GLP-1 therapies and intensify competition on price and supply.

The expansion follows a string of regulatory and commercial moves. Novo Nordisk said in a May 1, 2025 press release that CVS Caremark will make Wegovy (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg the preferred GLP-1 on its largest commercial template formularies effective July 1, 2025, and that the company launched NovoCare® Pharmacy in March to ship all dose strengths directly to patients at a reduced cost of $499 per month for self-paying patients. Separate company materials say the Wegovy savings offer was extended so eligible self-paying patients can access the $499 price at local pharmacies.

The oral tablet has also been cleared for U.S. use. A December regulatory milestone has been reported as an approval of an oral Wegovy tablet, and Novo Nordisk told state and industry partners it was prepared for a full U.S. launch in early January 2026. “The launch of Wegovy in 2021 changed how obesity was viewed and treated in the US. Now, with the Wegovy pill, we are offering a magnitude of weight loss that no other oral GLP-1 obesity candidate has been able to duplicate in phase 3 trials. We are confident that the expansion of Wegovy to a pill will help patients who have not sought or accepted treatment before,” said Dave Moore, executive vice president, U.S. Operations at Novo Nordisk in company materials. The firm added that “the starting dose of 1.5 mg will be available in pharmacies and select telehealth providers in early January, with savings offers for just $149 per month.”

Regulatory documents cited by the company say the oral approval was supported by data from the OASIS 4 phase 3 trial, a 64-week study of 307 adults with overweight or obesity and at least one weight-related comorbidity, which the company says supports both weight-loss claims and reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in certain patients.

The multi-format strategy has prompted scrutiny from market analysts. A Seeking Alpha analysis warned that “unit economics are structurally unfavorable due to poor bioavailability and high API requirements” and estimated that “oral Wegovy requires ~70x more API.” The analyst added, “I cut my rating to Sell (market underperform), citing margin compression as oral Wegovy requires ~70x more API, while prices have collapsed from $1,350/mo in years past to $299/mo presently.”

Retail and program partners are already positioning for the pill era. WeightWatchers said it plans to sell the pill if it is launched in the United States; CEO Tara Comonte said, “We have been working with Novo Nordisk ahead of time to support the launch of oral weight-loss medication,” and added, “A lot of people don't want an injection. And the convenience of a pill is going to be huge.”

Advocates welcomed an FDA‑approved oral option while flagging the need for safety, coverage, and equity. “After many years advocating for people living with obesity, one thing has always been clear: patient safety has to come first. That's why it's critical we rely on treatments that are rigorously tested and FDA‑approved,” said Joe Nadglowski, president and CEO of the Obesity Action Coalition.

Policymakers and insurers will face urgent questions about formulary alignment across presentations, reimbursement parity, and supply priorities as Novo Nordisk rolls out vials and pills alongside existing injectables. The changes promise wider choice for patients but also raise difficult tradeoffs for public health, access, and the economics of obesity care.