Novo Nordisk launches Wegovy pill in UAE

Launch

Novo Nordisk has launched Wegovy pill (semaglutide tablets, 25 mg once daily) in the United Arab Emirates, making the oral formulation available to people living with obesity. The UAE is the first country outside the United States to offer the pill.

Clinical data

The approval is supported by the OASIS 4 trial programme. In OASIS 4, once-daily oral semaglutide 25 mg delivered an approximate 17% mean weight loss when treatment was adhered to; about one in three participants achieved 20% or greater weight loss. The weight loss was reported as similar to that seen with injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg, and the safety and tolerability profile was consistent with previous semaglutide weight-management trials.

Regulatory and indications

Wegovy pill is the first oral GLP‑1 receptor agonist approved for weight management. It is approved by both the US FDA and the UAE Emirates Drug Establishment to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including heart attack and stroke, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight. The oral formulation is pending final marketing approval from the EMA and other regulators.

Market context and next steps

The company notes an estimated 1 billion people worldwide live with obesity; it states 28% of adults in the UAE are living with obesity and projects almost 7.5 million people will be living with obesity or overweight by 2035. Novo Nordisk says it will bring the Wegovy pill to additional select countries in the coming months and had previously signalled launches in select markets in the second half of 2026.