Early U.S. Oral Wegovy Prescriptions Exceed Expectations, Driving 9.1% Stock Surge
Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy launched in early January in the U.S., capturing strong first-week demand with initial prescriptions exceeding expectations, driving a 9.1% jump in NVO shares. The rapid uptake underscores potential for the oral formulation to expand Wegovy’s market beyond injectables, supporting revenue growth prospects in 2026.
1. Shares Surge on Oral Wegovy Launch
Novo Nordisk shares jumped 9.1% on January 5, 2026, following the first‐week U.S. uptake of its newly launched oral Wegovy weight-loss pill. The move marks one of the largest single‐day gains for the company in 2026 and underscores investor enthusiasm for the company’s expansion beyond injectable GLP-1 therapies. Volume on the New York Stock Exchange surged 35% above its 30-day average, reflecting broad participation from both retail and institutional accounts.
2. Early Prescription Momentum and Market Implications
According to pharmacy dispensing data, physicians wrote more than 12,000 first‐fill prescriptions for oral Wegovy in the inaugural week after its early January launch—exceeding consensus forecasts by 40%. Analysts at Jefferies project that, if this run‐rate sustains, oral Wegovy could generate upwards of $1.5 billion in U.S. sales in 2026 alone. The convenience of a once-daily pill, which carries no food-avoidance requirement, is expected to drive incremental market share gains from injectable competitors, positioning Novo Nordisk to capitalize on the rapidly growing obesity treatment segment.