The injectable GLP-1 era changed everything, and now the pill is doing it again. Wegovy (semaglutide) in tablet form launched in the U.S. on January 5 of this year and in just over five months, it has surpassed 3 million prescriptions. To put that in perspective, that’s roughly one prescription filled every five seconds, making it one of the strongest pharmaceutical launches by volume on record, according to an IQVIA analysis of more than 1,800 branded U.S. drug launches since 2013.
And the pace is only accelerating. The first million prescriptions were filled in 12 weeks. The next two million came in just 10. Here’s who’s actually taking it, what a new higher-dose option means and where the drug is headed next.
Who Is Taking the Wegovy Pill?
According to Novo Nordisk, more than 80 percent of new Wegovy pill prescriptions are going to people who are brand-new to GLP-1 therapy, meaning the oral option isn’t pulling existing injectable users over to a different format. It’s opening the door for an entirely new group of patients who either couldn’t, or wouldn’t, use an injectable.
What’s Next for Wegovy
Beyond the pill, Novo Nordisk also recently launched Wegovy HD—a higher-dose injectable at 7.2 mg for patients who need additional support on their weight-loss journey. The company was also at the American Diabetes Association’s 86th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans this week, where it presented new data from the SELECT, STEP, ESSENCE and OASIS clinical trials, covering everything from cardiovascular outcomes to long-term weight maintenance.
The company also revealed promising Phase 2 results for zenagamtide (also known as amycretin), an investigational drug showing up to 14.6 percent weight loss alongside significant blood sugar reductions in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
On the access front, a Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program launches July 1, giving eligible Medicare beneficiaries with obesity access to Wegovy for a $50 monthly copay. Commercially insured patients can currently access it for as little as $25 a month through savings programs.
Wegovy pill is currently available at more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, and international rollouts are planned for the second half of 2026.
