Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) released real-world data from the OCTANE study showing that adults with overweight or obesity who switched from injectable GLP-1 medicines to once-daily oral semaglutide, marketed as the Wegovy pill, lost an average of 4.1%, or 8.8 lbs, over three months, based on an average starting weight of 221.6 lbs.

The study analyzed de-identified data from the Ro telehealth platform and was presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Milan, Italy, on September 30, 2026.

Participants had previously used either tirzepatide or semaglutide injections for weight management before switching to the oral pill. The proportion of patients classified as living with obesity, defined as a BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher, fell from 87.1% at baseline to 65.5% at three months.

Novo acknowledged limitations of the study, including variable timing and completeness of data collected during routine telehealth care, self-reported data subject to bias, potential selection bias from requiring treatment persistence, and results that may not be generalizable to a broader population. Real-world studies evaluate associations and cannot determine causality.

"What the OCTANE data showed is that a switch to oral semaglutide may be a viable path for the right patient, with real weight loss and lifestyle improvements in the first three months," said Louis J. Aronne, MD, Director of the Comprehensive Weight Control Center at Weill Cornell Medicine and co-author of the study.

The Wegovy pill carries a Boxed Warning for possible thyroid tumors, including cancer, and should not be used in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation, among others.

The Wegovy pill is currently available in the United States, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and Germany, with additional market launches planned in coming quarters.