Since the Wegovy pill entered the U.S. market in early January, clinicians have written more than 2 million prescriptions for the weight loss GLP-1 pill, according to Novo Nordisk’s first-quarter financial results published May 6.
The launch might have been the fastest drug launch in U.S. history. Weekly prescriptions for the pill exceeded 200,000 between Jan. 5 (when it entered the market) and April 17, Novo Nordisk reported. Part of that success could be attributed to what the “P” in “GLP-1” stands for.
“We’ve been helped by the word ‘peptide’ at least because the U.S. has gone into a peptide craziness,” Novo Nordisk CEO and President Mike Doustdar told the Financial Times.
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. GLP-1 medications, which are FDA-approved to treat obesity, Type 2 diabetes and other weight-related conditions, have soared in popularity in the U.S. over the past few years. Approximately 1 in 8 Americans have taken a GLP-1 medication, according to an often-cited study from 2024.
Mr. Doustdar’s comment about the word “peptide” refers to another popular pharmaceutical: peptides marketed for wellness benefits. Health experts and organizations, including the ECRI and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, have raised concerns about compounded peptide formulations advertised for building muscle, slowing aging, aiding injury recovery and boosting immune support. Patient safety organizations have warned against compounded peptide use because of lacking evidence on their safety and efficacy in humans.
Peptides promoted for wellness are different from brand-name GLP-1s, which underwent years of safety and efficacy trials before gaining FDA approval. Still, the “peptide” in “glucagon-like peptide-1” could be a reason for the Wegovy pill’s historic launch. Mr. Doustdar told the Financial Times, “It’s beneficial that [the Wegovy pill] is a peptide.”
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