European medicines regulator recommends approval for Novo's Wegovy pill

The European Medicines Agency recommended approval for Novo Nordisk's weight-loss pill Wegovy, the regulator said on Friday, clearing its path to become the first oral weight-loss drug in Europe, ahead of U.S. rival Eli Lilly.

The recommendation comes as competition between Novo and Lilly intensifies, with both companies seeking to grow their share of the booming obesity drug market-expected by analysts to reach $150 billion annually in the next decade-by expanding into oral treatments.

Novo launched the pill in the United States earlier this year after winning FDA approval, giving it an early start. Lilly's weight-loss pill, Foundayo, was launched in April following its U.S. approval.

(Reporting by Kunal Das and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

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This story was originally published May 22, 2026 at 3:51 AM.