Novo Nordisk’s oral Wegovy has made a remarkable debut in the U.S. market, surpassing 50,000 weekly prescriptions just three weeks after its launch. This surge suggests a robust market driven by consumer demand, as most prescriptions are paid out of pocket rather than through insurance.
On Sunday, Industry reports reveal that Novo’s recent earnings release highlighted the rapid adoption of oral Wegovy. As of January 23, weekly prescriptions had reached approximately 50,000, up sharply from 18,000 in the first week and 26,000 in the second. The oral version of Wegovy hit U.S. shelves on January 5.
A striking aspect of this trend is that about 90% of prescriptions are cash purchases. This contrasts sharply with the injectable Wegovy, where over 80% of prescriptions are covered by insurance. The shift suggests that the oral version’s popularity is driven by consumer preference for its convenience.
Market analysts attribute this success to the significantly improved accessibility of the oral form compared to injectables, which has lowered barriers to entry for new users.
The introduction of oral Wegovy is reshaping the obesity treatment market. Growth Research, a market analysis firm, reports that the market share of oral Wegovy jumped from 7.2% at launch to 10.1% within just two weeks.
Interestingly, while prescriptions for injectable Wegovy dipped by 2.1% during this period, overall prescriptions in the category grew by 1%. This indicates a structural shift in which the rise in oral prescriptions is more than offsetting the decline in injectables.
Novo currently prices the lower-dose oral Wegovy at $149 per month for cash buyers, with plans to increase it to $199 starting in April.
The competitive landscape is set to intensify as Eli Lilly prepares to launch its oral obesity treatment, Ogliflozin, later this year. This development signals a pivotal shift in the global obesity treatment market towards oral medications.