In December 2025, the FDA granted approval for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy® pill (semaglutide) — the first once-daily oral GLP-1 therapy indicated for adults with obesity or overweight and weight-related comorbidities. Approval was based on the phase 3 OASIS 4 trial, which enrolled 307 patients over 64 weeks. Under the trial product estimand, participants who remained on treatment achieved an average 16.6% body-weight reduction versus 2.7% for placebo; under the treatment policy estimand (regardless of adherence) the differential was 13.6% versus 2.4%. The pill is broadly available through over 70,000 U.S. pharmacies and select telehealth providers at a self-pay starting price of $149 per month for the 1.5 mg starter dose, with higher doses priced between $149 and $299 monthly.

Earlier in 2025, Novo Nordisk discontinued its exploratory study of the same GLP-1 molecule in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease after interim analyses showed the primary cognitive endpoints were not met. However, secondary biomarker assessments revealed statistically significant reductions in hippocampal atrophy rates and modest improvements on amyloid PET scans compared with placebo. These findings suggest that earlier intervention or better patient stratification could unlock neuroprotective benefits. Analysts note that repurposing GLP-1 analogs for neurodegenerative disorders will require additional phase 2 proof-of-concept trials and could extend the patent life of semaglutide beyond its weight-loss exclusivity window.