The era of GLP-1 weight loss pills has officially begun. Novo Nordisk released a new, oral version of its GLP-1 weight loss drug Wegovy earlier this year. Rival Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 pill orforglipron is expected to be approved as early as this month.
A safe, effective weight loss pill was long a holy grail for the pharmaceutical industry. Injectable GLP-1 drugs have been blockbusters since they were approved to treat obesity a few years ago, but until now, an oral form of the medication has been elusive.
In this week’s STATus Report, host Alex Hogan explains why pills were so much harder to develop than injectables and why Novo and Lilly spent so much time and money developing oral GLP-1’s. STAT reporter and “The Readout LOUD” co-host Elaine Chen joins the conversation to discuss whether pills will alleviate some pricing and accessibility issues.
