Novo Nordisk’s oral version of Wegovy, a GLP-1 for obesity, could be the fastest drug launch in U.S. history, according to an analysis from Leerink Partners, a healthcare investment bank.
Approved in late December and rolled out to U.S. patients in January, the Wegovy pill is available through the drugmaker’s self-pay platform and Amazon Pharmacy, which offers same-day delivery to nearly half of U.S. customers. In a clinical trial, the once-daily, 25-milligram oral semaglutide resulted in an average 16.6% weight loss in adults with obesity or overweight with at least one comorbidity.
Leerink Partners said the pill has “the fastest drug launch ever.”
The third week of the drug’s launch recorded about 26,100 total prescriptions, a 42% increase from the second week, which saw about 18,400 prescriptions. These numbers are likely understated, according to the Jan. 30 report, which is based on IQVIA data as of Jan. 23.
In comparison, Eli Lilly’s Zepbound pen — a GLP-1 for obesity the FDA approved in December 2023 — recorded about 1,300 total prescriptions in the first week of its commercial launch. The second week recorded about 8,000, according to the report.
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