CONNECT WITH US
HealthTech

HealthTech

Early uptake for oral semaglutide proves rapid relative to injectables

Medical Xpress logo

Published on

Add as a preferred source on Google
Early uptake for oral semaglutide proves rapid relative to injectables

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Early uptake was rapid for oral semaglutide (Wegovy pill) relative to injectable incretin-based weight management therapies, according to a study published online Oct. 13 in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Yara Jelwan, M.D., M.P.H., from Johns Hopkins Ciccarone Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Baltimore, and colleagues examined uptake of oral semaglutide for obesity management using monthly national prescription data from the IQVIA National Prescription Audit. Analyses were restricted to branded weight management therapies: Wegovy pill, injectable semaglutide (Wegovy), and injectable tirzepatide (Zepbound). Monthly filled new prescriptions were assessed from July 2020 through June 2026.

The researchers found that prescriptions for weight management therapies increased rapidly over time; after introduction of the Wegovy pill, there was continued growth in injectable Wegovy and Zepbound prescriptions. Rapid early uptake of the Wegovy pill was seen, exceeding 100,000 new prescriptions by the second month after launch. The steepest early adoption curve was seen for the Wegovy pill in launch-aligned analyses, with an early uptake slope that was about 4.4- and 7.4-fold steeper than for Zepbound and injectable Wegovy, respectively.

The number of prescriptions for injectable Wegovy did not decrease after introduction of the Wegovy pill, but additional prescription growth was contributed by the Wegovy pill, yielding an increase in total semaglutide weight management prescriptions over time. After introduction of oral Wegovy in January 2026, the combined number of Wegovy prescriptions increased, with oral Wegovy accounting for much of the net increase.


Source link
Related Topics:HealthTech

Disclaimer

We strive to uphold the highest ethical standards in all of our reporting and coverage. We TheMorningPulse.fyi want to be transparent with our readers about any potential conflicts of interest that may arise in our work. It's possible that some of the investors we feature may have connections to other businesses, including competitors or companies we write about. However, we want to assure our readers that this will not have any impact on the integrity or impartiality of our reporting. We are committed to delivering accurate, unbiased news and information to our audience, and we will continue to uphold our ethics and principles in all of our work. Thank you for your trust and support.