Two New GLP-1 Options Just Hit Pharmacies This Week
Eli Lilly's first oral GLP-1 pill and Novo's highest-dose Wegovy are both rolling out nationwide. Here's what you need to know about your new options.
Lilly's First Weight Loss Pill Is Here
After years of waiting, we finally have another oral GLP-1 option. The FDA just approved Foundayo (orforglipron), Eli Lilly's answer to oral semaglutide. Unlike Wegovy injections, this is a daily pill you can take with or without food.
Here's what caught my attention: patients in the main trial lost an average of 27 pounds over 72 days on the highest dose. That's compared to just 2 pounds for people taking a placebo. Those are pretty solid numbers for a pill form.
The approval happened fast too – just 50 days from submission to FDA green light. That's because it went through an expedited review process, which usually means the agency sees real potential.
Wegovy Gets a Higher-Dose Version
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk rolled out Wegovy HD nationwide this week. It's the same semaglutide you know, but at 7.2 mg instead of the standard 2.4 mg maximum dose.
The numbers from their STEP UP trial are worth noting: people lost about 21% of their body weight on average if they stayed on the medication for 72 weeks. Even accounting for people who dropped out, the average was still around 19% weight loss.
You can find Wegovy HD at over 70,000 pharmacies across the country now, so availability shouldn't be an issue.
What This Means for Your Options
Having more choices is generally good news, especially if you've struggled with side effects or supply issues with existing medications. Pills can be easier for some people to stick with long-term compared to weekly injections.
But here's the reality check: we don't know pricing for Foundayo yet, and higher-dose Wegovy will likely cost more than the standard version. Insurance coverage for these newer options might take time to sort out too.
If you're currently doing well on your existing GLP-1 medication, there's no rush to switch. But if you've been waiting for a pill option or need something stronger than what you're taking, these could be worth discussing with your doctor.
Bottom Line
Two new tools in the toolbox this week – Lilly's first oral GLP-1 and a stronger version of Wegovy. Both show solid weight loss results in trials, but we'll need to see how they perform in the real world and what they'll actually cost. Worth keeping on your radar, especially if your current approach isn't working as well as you'd like. The comparison landscape just got a bit more interesting.
