The FDA recently approved a new oral tablet formulation of Wegovy® (semaglutide), marking the first available GLP-1 drug in an oral formulation.
GLP-1 drugs are a popular new class of drugs used for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. All other currently available GLP-1 drugs for the treatment of obesity come in injectable formulations. The availability of oral tablets could result in greater utilization of these drugs.
The new Wegovy oral tablets are indicated in combination with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity to reduce excess body weight and maintain weight reduction long term in obese adults and overweight adults with at least one weight-related comorbidity. Additionally, the tablets are approved to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with established cardiovascular disease who are either obese or overweight.
The new tablet formulation of Wegovy will be available in dosages of 1.5 mg, 4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg. The tablets must be taken once daily for 30 days at the starting dose of 1.5 mg, with a dosing escalation schedule that titrates every 30 days to achieve maintenance dosage.
Adverse reactions can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distension, headache, fatigue, dyspepsia (indigestion), dizziness, eructation (burping), hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes, flatulence, gastroenteritis (stomach flu), gastroesophageal reflux disease, and nasopharyngitis (common cold).
The new Wegovy oral tablet is expected to be on the market extremely soon, and while pricing information has not yet been released, the tablets are expected to be less expensive than the weekly injectables. Furthermore, there is speculation that the FDA could soon approve additional GLP-1 oral medications.
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