Photo by Jakub Żerdzicki on Unsplash
 

Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) shares experienced a significant surge in Monday’s trading session, with the stock jumping 5.19% to close at $55.11 on January 5, 2026. The rally continued into premarket trading on January 6, with shares climbing an additional 4.69% to $57.72 as of 5:04 AM EST. This momentum follows the company’s announcement that it has officially begun rolling out the Wegovy pill, the first-ever GLP-1 medication in pill form approved for weight loss in the United States.

The launch represents a pivotal moment for both Novo Nordisk and the obesity treatment market, as the Danish pharmaceutical giant offers patients a daily oral alternative to weekly injections. With competitive cash prices starting at just $149 per month and immediate availability across more than 70,000 U.S. pharmacies, investors are betting the innovation will capture significant market share among the more than 100 million Americans living with obesity.
 

Wegovy Pill Launch Marks Major Shift in Obesity Treatment

The Wegovy pill launch marks a watershed moment for Novo Nordisk, arriving just two weeks after FDA approval on December 22, 2025. The medication demonstrated impressive results in the OASIS 4 clinical trial, with patients achieving approximately 17% average weight loss if they remained on treatment, or about 14% when analyzing all patients regardless of adherence. This efficacy surpasses other oral GLP-1 obesity candidates in phase 3 trials, giving Novo Nordisk a clear competitive advantage over rival Eli Lilly, whose competing pill awaits FDA review later this year.

The company’s aggressive pricing strategy addresses longstanding affordability concerns that have plagued the GLP-1 market. While injectable versions carry list prices near $1,000 monthly, the Wegovy pill starts at $149 per month for the 1.5 mg starter dose, with higher doses (4 mg, 9 mg, and 25 mg) priced between $149 and $299. Commercially insured patients can access the medication for as little as $25 monthly through savings programs. The pill is immediately available through major retail pharmacies including CVS and Costco, telehealth providers like Ro, LifeMD, and Weight Watchers, plus Novo Nordisk’s NovoCare Pharmacy and GoodRx.

Beyond weight management, the FDA approved the Wegovy pill for reducing major cardiovascular events such as death, heart attack, or stroke in adults with obesity and established cardiovascular disease. This dual indication mirrors the approval label of the injectable Wegovy formulation, both containing the active ingredient semaglutide, which works by mimicking the gut hormone GLP-1 to suppress appetite. The oral formulation requires patients to wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking each day, but offers the convenience of daily dosing integrated into patients’ routines.
 

Shares Rise as Investors React to Pill Launch

Novo Nordisk’s stock has experienced significant volatility over the past year, declining 35.39% over the trailing 12 months despite strong year-to-date performance of 7.59% as of January 6, 2026. The company’s market capitalization stands at $244.88 billion, with a trailing P/E ratio of 14.28 and forward P/E of 14.51. These valuations reflect investor uncertainty about competitive pressures in the rapidly expanding GLP-1 market, which Goldman Sachs analysts project could reach $100 billion by the 2030s, with oral drugs potentially capturing a 24% share, approximately $22 billion of that market.

The pill launch positions Novo Nordisk ahead in what has become the next battleground against Eli Lilly in the obesity treatment space. Since millions have been prescribed injectable Wegovy 2.4 mg since its 2021 launch, the company has established strong brand recognition and clinical credibility. The oral formulation extends this advantage, offering patients who prefer pills over injections a proven treatment option. Ed Cinca, Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions, emphasized that the launch represents “changing what’s possible in weight management” while ensuring affordability and accessibility.

Recent analyst sentiment has been mixed, with Argus Research downgrading the stock to Hold on December 8, 2025. However, the average analyst price target sits at $53.19, with estimates ranging from $41.90 to $70.89. The company reported strong Q3 FY25 results with revenue of 74.98 billion DKK and maintains a profit margin of 32.88%. With 78,554 employees and operations in approximately 80 countries, Novo Nordisk continues to leverage its century-long heritage in diabetes care to expand into obesity and rare disease treatments, positioning itself as a leader in addressing serious chronic diseases through scientific innovation.

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