In One Week: Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Pill Prescribed Over 18,000 Times in the US

The tablet form of Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss drug Wegovy was prescribed over 18,000 times in the US during its first full week on the market, according to IQVIA data reported by Reuters. Analysts view this as an encouraging start in the race for oral obesity therapies.

During the first week, Wegovy in tablet form was prescribed 18,410 times. Analysts note that this is a stronger debut compared to previous launches of GLP-1 therapies, including the injectable version of Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, even though the market is significantly more developed today.

Investors are closely monitoring prescription data to assess whether the Danish company can capitalize on its first-mover advantage over its main competitor, Eli Lilly. Oral obesity therapies offer greater flexibility and a needle-free alternative, although injectable medications are expected to dominate for years to come.

According to at least two analysts, early sales data for the Wegovy tablet indicate strong initial demand and a faster pace compared to the launch of other GLP-1 drugs, amid a shift by pharmaceutical companies toward direct-to-patient payment models.

Barclays analyst James Gordon commented that the early data for the oral form of Wegovy are very strong, albeit in a market that is already much better established compared to the initial stages of obesity therapy development.

According to IQVIA data, the Wegovy pill reached 3,071 prescriptions in the US in just the first four days following its launch on January 5. Novo Nordisk has not yet provided an official comment on the matter. The company, led by a new CEO since last year, is relying on the tablet version of its flagship product to attract new users and regain momentum against Eli Lilly, after profit warnings and slowing growth pressured its shares last year.

Since the beginning of the year, Novo Nordisk shares have increased by approximately 25%. At the end of last week, their price rose by another 2.5%, reaching the highest level since late July, when Mike Doustdar took over as CEO.

The success of the Wegovy pill will depend on Novo Nordisk’s ability to attract American consumers willing to pay out-of-pocket, representing a departure from the traditional model where demand is closely tied to health insurance.

Meanwhile, the US Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision by April regarding Eli Lilly’s experimental weight-loss pill, Orforglipron. Jefferies analyst Akash Tewari commented that the strong start of Wegovy in oral form is also an encouraging signal for the prospects of Lilly’s competing product.