WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration said a television advertisement for Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy weight‑loss pill is “false or misleading,” citing an agency letter dated Feb. 5 that flagged the campaign’s claims about the drug, Reuters reported, with the letter itself posted by the FDA.
The regulator said the ad misleadingly suggests the oral form of Wegovy offers an advancement over other GLP‑1 obesity drugs, a point summarized by Reuters and reiterated in coverage from Hindustan Times.
What FDA objected to
In the letter, the FDA said phrases such as “live lighter” and “a way forward” imply greater weight‑loss benefits than other approved GLP‑1 treatments, a claim the agency said has not been demonstrated, according to Reuters and CNBC.
Regulators also said the ad implies benefits beyond physical weight loss — including emotional relief or reduced psychological burden — and faulted the spot for presenting on‑screen text that did not match the audio, the FDA letter shows, a concern also detailed by Hindustan Times.
Company response
Novo confirmed it received the agency’s “Untitled Letter” and said the TV spot has been running since the pill’s launch, not as its Super Bowl advertising, a distinction highlighted by Reuters and MarketScreener.
A company spokesperson said Novo is responding to the FDA’s concerns about the ad’s presentation, statements reported by Reuters and echoed by CNBC.
Next steps
The FDA said the advertisement violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and asked the company to take immediate action that could include stopping any ads with misleading claims, according to Reuters and MarketScreener.
The agency’s warning underscores its broader push to ensure direct‑to‑consumer drug ads accurately present benefits and risks, a theme highlighted in the FDA letter and in CNBC’s reporting on the case.
How we report: We select the day’s most important stories, confirm facts across multiple reputable sources, and avoid anonymous sourcing. Our goal is clear, balanced coverage you can trust—because transparency and verification matter for informed readers.
Image Attribution ▾
Image: FDA Building 66 – CDRH by U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Public domain (PD US FDA). Source: Wikimedia Commons. License: Public domain (PD US FDA). Modifications: cropped to 16:9 and resized to 1920×1080.
.jpg){kind=link}