Prime Highlights:
- The FDA has approved the Wegovy pill, the first oral GLP-1 therapy for long-term weight loss, offering the same benefits as injectable treatments.
- Experts say the pill could fill a major gap in obesity care in India, making weight management safer, easier, and more accessible.
Key Facts:
- In the OASIS-4 trial, adults with obesity or overweight lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight over 64 weeks, with one-third losing 20% or more.
- The pill is also approved to reduce serious heart problems in adults with obesity or overweight who already have heart disease.
Background:
In a major step for obesity treatment, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Wegovy pill, a daily 25 mg oral semaglutide. It is the first oral GLP-1 medicine approved for long-term weight control. Until now, effective GLP-1 treatments were only available as injections, which many patients were hesitant to use.
The approval marks a significant shift in how obesity may be treated globally. According to Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, the pill delivers weight-loss results comparable to the injectable version of the drug, which has been widely regarded as a benchmark therapy in medical weight management. In addition to weight loss, the oral formulation has also been approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with obesity or overweight who already have heart disease.
The FDA’s decision is based on results from the phase-3 OASIS clinical trial programme, supported by earlier STEP and PIONEER studies. In the OASIS-4 trial, adults with obesity or overweight and at least one related medical condition achieved an average weight loss of 16.6 per cent over 64 weeks when they adhered to treatment. Nearly one-third of participants lost 20 per cent or more of their body weight.
The FDA approval has particular relevance for India, where rates of obesity, type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease are rising rapidly. Injectable Ozempic, another semaglutide product from Novo Nordisk, has only recently entered the Indian market. The success of an oral alternative raises questions about when similar therapies could become available to Indian patients.
Health experts point out that Asian populations face higher cardiovascular risk at lower body mass index levels, a concern repeatedly highlighted by the Indian Council of Medical Research and the WHO. A safe oral weight-loss pill can help prevent serious health problems if taken the right way.
In India, it is both an opportunity and a challenge, helping more people access treatment while making sure it is safe, affordable, and used properly.
