New Orleans, June 2026 — Novo Nordisk has announced that Wegovy® (semaglutide) 25 mg tablets have surpassed three million prescriptions in the United States within just over five months of its January 5, 2026 launch. This milestone makes it one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical launches by volume on record, averaging one prescription filled approximately every five seconds.
The data shows that over 80% of these new prescriptions are for patients who have never undergone GLP-1 therapy before, demonstrating that the oral option is successfully expanding access to obesity treatment rather than just shifting patients from existing injectables.
The announcement coincides with Novo Nordisk’s major presence at the American Diabetes Association’s (ADA) 2026 Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, where the company is presenting new clinical analyses for its weight management portfolio.
Key Highlights:
- Rapid Adoption: Wegovy® pill reached 1 million prescriptions within its first 12 weeks, adding another 2 million over the subsequent 10 weeks.
- Market Expansion: The majority of patients prescribed the pill are new to GLP-1 therapy.
- Portfolio Strength: Alongside the oral tablet, the recently launched high-dose injectable, Wegovy® HD (7.2 mg), is also experiencing strong initial uptake.
- Global Footprint: Following its US success, Novo Nordisk is preparing to roll out the Wegovy® pill internationally in the second half of 2026, starting with its recent approval and launch in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Expanding Patient Access
Novo Nordisk highlighted ongoing efforts to lower the financial barrier for patients:
- Commercial Insurance: Eligible patients can access Wegovy® for as little as $25 per month through corporate savings programs.
- Medicare Coverage: The newly introduced Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program will launch on July 1, 2026, allowing eligible Medicare beneficiaries with obesity to access both Wegovy® injections and tablets for a $50 monthly copay.
- Distribution: The medication is currently available through more than 70,000 US pharmacies, NovoCare® Pharmacy, and select telehealth platforms.
“With Wegovy® pill and Wegovy® HD available for weight management, patients and their healthcare providers are making choices that fit their needs, resulting in the clear adoption for both treatments,” said Jamey Millar, Executive Vice President, US Operations of Novo Nordisk. “We are at ADA 2026 to talk to patients, healthcare professionals, and investors to present our data but also listen and learn.”
Novo Nordisk will host a dedicated investor webcast today, June 7, 2026, at 6:30 pm CDT, to discuss the ADA clinical data and commercial milestones.
For full eligibility criteria, terms, and conditions regarding savings cards and the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge, visit WegovyTerms.com and NovoCarePharmacyTerms.com.
