The tablet is not yet available in the UK but was approved in the US in DecemberNeil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)
07:04, 13 May 2026Updated 07:04, 13 May 2026
Pills could replace jabs for some people
More than a quarter of obese people taking a daily pill version of the weight loss drug Wegovy responded swiftly to the treatment, losing more than 10% of their body weight on average within four months, according to data. These patients went on to shed more than a fifth of their body weight by the end of the trial, researchers found.
Separate analysis suggests the pill improved patients’ ability to move. The tablet form of Wegovy, also known as semaglutide, is made by Novo Nordisk. It is not yet available in the UK but was approved in the US in December.
New data from the Oasis 4 trial, which involved 307 patients who either received the Wegovy pill or a placebo once a day for 64 weeks, is being presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Istanbul. Analysis found that more than a quarter of those taking the pill were so-called “early responders” – patients who lose at least 10% of body weight after 16 weeks.
A woman taking weight loss pills
On average, this group lost 13.2% of their body weight during that period and 21.6% by the end of the trial at 64 weeks. Those who did not fall into the early responder category still lost 11.5% of their body weight by week 64, researchers found.
Professor Partha Kar, a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology, said: “Obesity management isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. It’s nuanced, and individual responses can differ quite markedly. With anti-obesity medications, some people will notice changes sooner, others more gradually, but early signals can help clinicians and patients understand whether treatment is on track and guide timely, informed conversations.
“The real value lies in following the journey over time and interpreting progress in context. That’s what enables clinicians and patients to have honest, individualised conversations about what’s happening, what’s realistic, and how we define success for each person.”
Separate analysis of Oasis 4 found almost eight in 10 patients on Wegovy pills who reported poor movement at the start of the study showed improved mobility after 64 weeks. Sebnem Avsar Tuna, UK general manager at Novo Nordisk UK, said: “This is an important reminder that living with obesity can impact much more than body weight alone.
The pills are already in use in the USA
“It can influence how comfortable people feel moving through their daily lives, from standing for longer periods to bending down or staying active. These new findings add to our understanding of how oral semaglutide may affect not only weight loss, but also aspects of physical function that can matter to people in very practical, everyday ways.”
Novo Nordisk will also share data comparing 25mg of oral Wegovy to 36mg of orforglipron, another weight loss pill made by Eli Lily.
It suggests the Wegovy pill results in greater weight loss and fewer side effects.