First-Ever GLP-1 Weight Loss Pill Approved

A major milestone in weight loss treatment: the first pill form of a GLP-1 medication has been approved for weight loss.

GLP-1 drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes but have surged in popularity in recent years for their ability to help people lose significant weight. Until now, those medications were only available as injections.

Novo Nordisk already sells a lower-dose semaglutide pill to treat diabetes. This newly approved version, however, is specifically designed for weight loss and must be taken once daily.

A competing weight loss pill from Eli Lilly is also in development and is expected to receive approval in the coming months.

Novo Nordisk has not yet announced pricing for the new pill, but it is expected to cost less than the weekly injectable versions. Whether insurance companies will cover it remains uncertain.