Oral weight-loss medications are expected to enter the market by March 2026, potentially replacing GLP-1 injection treatments like Ozempic and Wegovy. According to Dr. Mehmet Oz, now serving as head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, these pills will be priced around $150 per month, offering a lower-cost and more convenient alternative to current injection-based therapies.
Speaking on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria,” Dr. Oz explained that pharmaceutical companies are rapidly advancing oral formulations of GLP-1 drugs. While emphasizing that diet and exercise remain essential, he noted that the pill would serve as an important tool for individuals struggling to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone. He also highlighted the potential national impact, projecting the U.S. could lose more than 135 million pounds over the next year if the medications are widely adopted.
The Trump administration, through Medicare policy updates, has been working to lower the costs of weight-loss drugs, including the injectable GLP-1 options. That initiative is expected to help make the upcoming oral drugs more accessible as well. Companies such as Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are preparing oral versions—Eli Lilly’s “Orforglipron” among them—while also cutting the prices of their current GLP-1 injectables.
While the pills are being promoted as a convenient and cheaper alternative, healthcare experts continue to emphasize the importance of lifestyle interventions. Questions remain about how Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance plans will cover the pills, how the treatment will be administered, and whether the convenience of oral options will improve patient adherence.
As the market shifts from injections to pills, this development may reshape obesity treatment across the healthcare system. Policy decisions over coverage, pricing, and accessibility will be key factors in determining the broader impact on public health and federal healthcare spending.
