Finance
Novo's Wegovy Pill Hits Over 18,000 US Prescriptions in Strong Debut Week
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on January 23, 2026
3 min readLast updated: January 23, 2026
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Novo's Wegovy pill tracked 18,410 U.S. prescriptions in its first week, indicating strong market entry against Eli Lilly. The FDA's decision on Lilly's pill is due by April.
Novo's Wegovy Oral Pill Achieves Over 18,000 Prescriptions in First Week
Wegovy Pill Launch and Market Impact
By Sriparna Roy
Initial Prescription Data
Jan 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill was prescribed more than 18,000 times in the U.S. in the first full week after its launch in an encouraging start to the oral weight-loss drug race, according to analysts who cited IQVIA data.
Market Competition
Investors are closely watching prescriptions data to see if the Danish drugmaker can press its first-mover advantage against rival Eli Lilly in a competitive weight-loss market.
Future Outlook for Wegovy and Competitors
Oral obesity treatments offer patients greater flexibility and a needle-free alternative, although injectable medications are still expected to dominate for years to come.
At least two analysts said the prescription data signals robust early uptake and was tracking ahead of launches of other GLP-1s, as drugmakers shift towards cash-pay consumer models.
"The early oral Wegovy launch data is very strong, albeit in a now far better established obesity market versus building the obesity market," Barclays analyst James Gordon said.
TRACKING AHEAD OF OTHER GLP-1 LAUNCHES
Novo's pill was prescribed 18,410 times in the week ended January 16, which analysts said was a stronger debut than the launches of Novo's injectable Wegovy and Lilly's Zepbound, though they noted that the market has matured significantly since those drugs first rolled out.
The pill hit 3,071 U.S. prescriptions in the first four days after its launch on January 5, according to IQVIA data. The firm did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
Novo, under a new CEO who took over last year, is banking on the pill version of its blockbuster Wegovy treatment to draw new consumers as it works to regain momentum against Lilly, after profit warnings and slowing growth weighed on its shares last year.
Novo's shares have been rising steadily since the turn of the year, up around 25% in January. The stock rose 2.5% on Friday to hit its highest level since late July, when CEO Mike Doustdar took over amid sliding sales.
ENCOURAGING FOR LILLY'S PILL
The Wegovy pill's success will hinge on how effectively Novo can win over U.S. consumers willing to pay out of pocket, marking a sharp break from the typical model in which uptake is correlated with insurance coverage.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision on Lilly's experimental pill orforglipron by April.
"We think the early oral Wegovy launch is directionally encouraging for orfo," said Jefferies analyst Akash Tewari.
(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru, Bhanvi Satija and Maggie Fick in London; Editing by Devika Syamnath and Maju Samuel)
Key Takeaways
- •Wegovy pill tracked 18,410 U.S. prescriptions in its first week.
- •Novo Nordisk aims to outpace Eli Lilly in the weight-loss market.
- •The pill offers a needle-free alternative for obesity treatment.
- •Novo's shares have risen 25% in January.
- •FDA decision on Lilly's pill expected by April.
Frequently Asked Questions about Novo's Wegovy pill hits over 18,000 US prescriptions in strong debut week
1What is Wegovy?
Wegovy is a prescription medication developed by Novo Nordisk for weight management, approved by the FDA. It contains semaglutide, which helps reduce appetite and caloric intake.
