EU approves Wegovy pill as first oral weight-loss drug

Novo Nordisk ↘ 8.78% announced Wednesday that the European Commission has approved its once-daily oral Wegovy pill for weight management in adults with obesity, making it the first GLP-1 receptor agonist available in tablet form across all 27 EU member states.globenewswire+1

A Landmark for Obesity Treatment in Europe

The approval covers the use of Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide 25 mg) for adults with a body mass index of 30 or above, or those who are overweight with a BMI between 27 and 30 and at least one weight-related comorbidity, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. It follows the positive opinion issued by the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in May 2026.ema.europa+2

The EU clearance marks the fifth regulatory approval for the oral Wegovy formulation, after the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. The European Commission also granted approval for a Wegovy 7.2 mg injection in a single-dose pen for people living with obesity.globenewswire+1

Clinical Evidence and Competition

The approval is based on Novo Nordisk's OASIS clinical trial programme, in which the once-daily 25 mg oral semaglutide demonstrated weight loss of approximately 17% compared with 3% for placebo. Around one in three participants achieved 20% or more weight loss. The pill offers patients a convenient alternative to weekly subcutaneous injections.globenewswire

The EU approval positions Novo Nordisk ahead of rival Eli Lilly ↘ 0.53%, which is developing its own oral weight-loss treatment, orforglipron. Novo Nordisk has indicated it plans to launch the tablets in select EU markets in the second half of 2026.reuters+2

Growing Momentum

The Wegovy pill launched in the U.S. in early January 2026 and has seen rapid uptake, with prescriptions surpassing 3 million. The drug received FDA approval in December 2025 and UK approval on June 11, 2026. Shares of Novo Nordisk rose on the news Wednesday, according to Reuters.pharmaphorum+4