Novo Nordisk wins EU approval for Wegovy pill and new injection

Novo Nordisk has received European Commission marketing authorisation for Wegovy (once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg) as a treatment for adults with obesity or overweight, the company announced on July 15, 2026. The approval marks the drug's fifth regulatory clearance, following earlier approvals in the US, UK, UAE, and Bahrain.

The pill is approved for adults with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or above, or those with a BMI of 27 kg/m² or above with at least one weight-related comorbidity, when used alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.

The approval is based on the OASIS clinical trial programme, including the OASIS 4 trial, a 64-week phase 3b study involving 307 adults. Participants taking oral semaglutide 25 mg achieved approximately 17% mean weight loss compared with 3% in the placebo group. Roughly one in three participants achieved weight loss of 20% or more. Adverse-event-related discontinuations were 6.9% for the drug versus 5.9% for placebo.

The European Commission also approved Wegovy 7.2 mg injection in a single-dose pen, which Novo Nordisk states delivers approximately 21% weight loss.

"For many people, a tablet may be a simpler and more acceptable way to start and continue treatment," said Mike Doustdar, president and CEO of Novo Nordisk.

Wegovy pill is currently available in the US, UK, and UAE. Novo Nordisk said it plans to launch the pill in additional countries in the second half of 2026. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen exchange under the ticker NOVO B.

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