Novo Nordisk has launched Wegovy pill (semaglutide tablets) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), making it the first country outside the United States where the treatment is available for people living with obesity. The launch forms part of the company’s strategy to expand access to innovative obesity treatments and broaden treatment options globally.

Commenting on the development, Emil Kongshøj Larsen, Executive Vice President, International Operations at Novo Nordisk, said the launch marks an important milestone in the company’s efforts to improve access to obesity care worldwide. He added that future launches will be guided by factors such as local patient demand, healthcare professional readiness and the availability of healthcare and telehealth infrastructure capable of supporting long-term obesity management.

According to the company, the UAE has demonstrated strong progress across these areas, making it a suitable market for the introduction of the therapy. Novo Nordisk also stated that it plans to launch Wegovy pill in additional selected countries in the coming months.

Wegovy pill is the first oral Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist approved for weight management. Its approval is based on findings from the OASIS 4 clinical trial programme.

In the OASIS 4 trial, adults living with obesity or overweight and at least one comorbidity who adhered to treatment with oral semaglutide 25 mg once daily achieved an average weight loss of approximately 17 percent. The company noted that the weight-loss results were comparable to those achieved with injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg.

The trial also showed that one in three participants achieved weight loss of 20 percent or more. In addition, the established safety and tolerability profile of semaglutide was reaffirmed, with results consistent with previous studies evaluating semaglutide for weight management.

Novo Nordisk stated that Wegovy pill is currently the only weight-loss pill approved by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) for reducing the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including heart attack and stroke, in adults with established cardiovascular disease and obesity or overweight.

Globally, around one billion people are living with obesity. In the UAE, approximately 28 percent of adults are affected by obesity, while nearly 7.5 million people are projected to be living with obesity or overweight by 2035.

Novo Nordisk had earlier announced plans to introduce Wegovy pill in selected markets during the second half of 2026. While the once-weekly Wegovy injection (2.4 mg and 7.2 mg) has received approvals from the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and other regulatory authorities worldwide, the once-daily Wegovy pill (semaglutide 25 mg) has been approved by the FDA and EDE. The oral formulation is currently awaiting final marketing approval from the EMA and other regulatory authorities.