The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the weight loss pill Wegovy, developed by Novo Nordisk.

The pill contains 25 milligrams of semaglutide, the same active ingredient found in the injectable medications Wegovy and Ozempic. The approval comes at a crucial time for Novo Nordisk, which has had a difficult year, with declining stocks and stagnant sales for injectable medications, in the face of intense competition from Eli Lilly. Following the announcement of the approval, Novo's shares rose by 8%, while Lilly's fell by 1%.

Studies have shown that users of the pill lost an average of 16.6% of their body weight, compared to 2.7% in the case of placebo. The pill is intended for adults with obesity or overweight and at least one associated medical condition, thus expanding the patient base in a context of rising medical costs related to obesity.