By Dr. Asnat Raziel, bariatric surgeon specializing in obesity treatment, metabolic health and healthy longevity; Director of the Multidisciplinary Center for Obesity Treatment, Assia Medical, Assuta Ramat HaChayal, Tel Aviv
The Wegovy pill in Israel: what we know about the launch
The Wegovy pill in Israel has been available since November 2026, through Form 29C. According to a report by Yoav Even on Israel’s Channel 12 news (N12), the launch was planned for Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The reported price ranges from 640 to 1,260 shekels a month, depending on the dose. Because the pill is not yet registered in Israel, it is supplied through Form 29C, the Ministry of Health pathway for a medication that is not yet registered here. So it is worth checking the final price at the pharmacy.
For many people, this is real news. Patients who shy away from needles can now get the same active ingredient in a daily pill. On the other hand, the pill is not simply “an injection you swallow.” It has its own doses, strict rules for taking it and familiar side effects. In this article, I explain what the studies showed, who the treatment suits and what to know before you start.
What is the Wegovy pill?
The Wegovy pill contains semaglutide, the active ingredient in the weekly Wegovy injection. Semaglutide mimics GLP-1, a gut hormone that signals fullness to the brain. In practice, the drug reduces hunger, slows stomach emptying and helps you eat less.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the pill in December 2025, and it has been sold in the United States since early January 2026. According to the U.S. label, the pill is intended for adults with obesity, or with overweight and a weight-related medical problem. In addition, it is approved there to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. In Israel, suitability is determined by a personal medical assessment, and the doctor submits the request on Form 29C.
How much weight do people lose? The OASIS 4 trial
The key study of the pill is OASIS 4, published in 2025 in the New England Journal of Medicine. It included 307 adults with obesity or overweight, without diabetes. The researchers assigned them at random: two-thirds received oral semaglutide 25 mg a day, and one-third received a dummy pill (placebo). Everyone also received lifestyle counseling.
After 64 weeks, about a year and a quarter, average weight loss was 13.6% in the pill group, compared with 2.2% in the placebo group. In other words, a person weighing 100 kg lost about 13.6 kg on average. This analysis also includes participants who stopped treatment partway through. In addition, the researchers reported better everyday physical function compared with placebo.
13.6% or 16.6%? Two numbers from the same study
Headlines sometimes cite 16.6% as well. That figure comes from a different analysis, which looked at people who stayed on treatment as planned. In that analysis, the placebo group lost 2.7%. Also, 34.4% of those on the pill lost 20% or more of their body weight. Both numbers are correct, but they answer different questions. So 16.6% describes full adherence, not a promise for every patient.
The Wegovy pill in Israel versus the injection: is it as effective?
OASIS 4 did not compare the pill directly with the injection. Still, we can compare the gap against placebo. With the pill, the gap was 11.4 percentage points. In the STEP 1 trial of the weekly 2.4 mg injection, the gap was 12.4 percentage points. So the results are close, but this is not a head-to-head trial. I go into more detail in my article on the Wegovy pill versus the injection.
An earlier study, OASIS 1, tested a much higher dose of 50 mg a day. Among 667 participants, average weight loss was 15.1% after 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo. However, that dose was not approved for marketing, so it should not be compared directly with the 25 mg pill.
By contrast, other injectable drugs achieve much greater weight loss. For example, in the SURMOUNT-5 trial, tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro, led to an average loss of 20.2%. The semaglutide injection led to a 13.7% loss in the same trial, after 72 weeks. However, that trial compared two injections and did not test the pill.
The Wegovy pill versus Foundayo
Since mid-September 2026, Foundayo has also been sold in Israel. It is a pill from Eli Lilly that contains orforglipron. In the ATTAIN-1 trial, the highest dose led to an average loss of 11.2% after 72 weeks, compared with 2.1% on placebo. Among those who stayed on treatment, the loss reached 12.4%.
Foundayo’s main advantage is convenience: you take it regardless of food and drink. The Wegovy pill, in Israel and elsewhere, requires a structured morning routine. Remember that this is a comparison between separate studies, not a head-to-head trial. If you are weighing the two, I wrote a detailed comparison of the two pills.
How do you take the Wegovy pill in Israel?
The body absorbs the pill poorly, so the rules for taking it largely determine success. First, take one pill in the morning, right after waking up, on an empty stomach. Second, swallow it whole with a little water, up to about 120 mL, and not with coffee, tea or juice. Finally, wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medications.
The dose rises gradually every 30 days: 1.5 mg, then 4 mg and 9 mg. From day 91, you continue on a maintenance dose of 25 mg a day. Do not take two pills to “make up” a dose. If you miss a pill, skip it and continue the next day as usual.
People switching from the injection to the pill have their own rules. Make the switch from injection to pill only under a doctor’s guidance, and never convert doses on your own.
Side effects do not disappear when you swallow
The Wegovy pill in Israel works through the same mechanism as the injection, so its side effects are similar too. In OASIS 4, 74.0% of those on the pill reported digestive side effects, compared with 42.2% on placebo. The most common were nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation and abdominal pain. Most were mild to moderate and eased over time. Even so, 6.9% of those on the pill stopped treatment because of side effects, compared with 5.9% on placebo.
The label also warns of pancreatitis, gallstones and dehydration that can harm the kidneys. Therefore, severe, persistent abdominal pain or vomiting that keeps you from drinking requires immediate medical attention. In addition, the drug must not be taken during pregnancy. Women planning a pregnancy should stop treatment at least two months beforehand. I wrote about ways to ease nausea and other symptoms in my article on Wegovy side effects.
How much will the Wegovy pill cost in Israel?
According to the N12 report, the monthly price ranges from 640 to 1,260 shekels, depending on the dose. For comparison, the list price of Foundayo in Israel ranges from 691.59 to 1,146.46 shekels a month. At this stage, it is still unclear whether the health funds (HMOs) will include the pill in their supplementary insurance. If it enters an arrangement similar to the injection’s, the discount could reach about 50%. I discuss coverage further in my article on insurance coverage for obesity drugs.
Who is the Wegovy pill in Israel right for?
The pill is especially suitable for people who shy away from injections and for those who prefer a fixed daily treatment. On the other hand, people who find it hard to keep half an hour each morning free of coffee and medications may find the weekly injection much more convenient. Also, people who take many medications in the morning should plan their routine with their doctor. My guide on who should take the Wegovy pill and who should not covers this in detail.
It is important to remember that obesity is a chronic disease. When treatment stops, weight tends to come back. That is why sticking with treatment, a protein-rich diet and physical activity are part of the treatment, not an add-on.
Bottom line
The Wegovy pill in Israel expands the toolbox for treating obesity. Studies show an average weight loss of 13.6%, close to the results of the weekly injection, and without a needle. However, the pill demands daily discipline, and its side effects resemble those of the injection. The choice between a pill, an injection or another treatment is best made with a doctor who knows the full picture.
The information in this article is general and is not a substitute for personal medical advice.
References
Oral Semaglutide at a Dose of 25 mg in Adults with Overweight or Obesity
Tirzepatide as Compared with Semaglutide for the Treatment of Obesity
ATTAIN-1: Oral Orforglipron Significantly Reduces Weight, Cardiometabolic Risk
WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablets – Highlights of Prescribing Information
The OASIS 4 trial was funded by Novo Nordisk, and the ATTAIN-1 trial was funded by Eli Lilly.
