Dr. Oz predicts oral weight loss pills will replace GLP-1 shots by 2026

Oral weight-loss pills will replace GLP-1 injections by March 2026, Medicare and Medicaid Services Director Dr. Mehmet Oz predicted on Monday.

Oz made the statement during a Monday morning appearance on FOX Business’ “Mornings With Maria,” where he discussed the Trump administration’s broader push to improve the health of Americans.

“These pharmaceutical companies are developing this technology rapidly,” Oz said. “We have pills coming. I just learned, I’ll explain to your audience, that by March we will have pills that replace injections for these patients as well. That’s at $150 a month, it’s even cheaper.”

“We’re changing the face of obesity in a big way. One big statement, one big plea, Maria, you were so kind with your words to me earlier. I’ve built my whole life on educating people, empowering people. Losing weight the right way. Diet, exercise. Obesity is not a deficiency of GLP-1 drugs in the bloodstream. However, if you can’t lose weight, that’s an important crutch. It definitely works,” Oz continued.

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Oz predicted that President Donald Trump’s deal with pharmaceutical companies would allow America to lose 135 million pounds over the next 12 months.

He added that losing weight will also have health benefits, reducing the incidence of heart disease and other weight-related conditions.

Under the administration’s new deal, Novo Nordisk said the lowest doses of Wegovy would cost $149 for a monthly supply, if approved, and would extend across all of the company’s direct-to-patient offerings. The company also confirmed its plans to lower prices for its injectable drugs, including Wegovy and Ozempic, under Medicare Part D, Medicaid and self-pay channels. Novo Nordisk said it is reviewing its self-checkout pricing in the U.S. and expects to announce updated offerings for Wegovy and Ozempic in the coming weeks.

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Dr. Oz says weight-loss pills will replace injections in March 2026. (Lee Vogel/Concordia Summit/Getty Images)

Trump called the deals “a victory for American patients that will save lives and improve the health of millions upon millions of Americans.”

For self-pay patients, Lilly said it will offer Zepbound at a starting price of $299 for the lowest dose and up to $449 for the highest doses — roughly $50 less than current direct-to-patient prices and comparable to prices in Europe through the company’s digital pharmacy platform, LillyDirect. Orforglipron, Lilly’s once-daily oral obesity pill that is still awaiting federal approval, will also start at $149 for the lowest dose. Medicare beneficiaries will pay no more than $50 per month for Zepbound and Orforglipron.

Additional medications, including Emgality, Trulicity and Mounjaro, will be added to LillyDirect at 50% to 60% off current list prices.

President Donald Trump’s administration has reached an agreement to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs. (Marcus Brandt/Image Alliance via/Getty Images)

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GLP-1 medications work by mimicking the body’s natural hormone pathways to help regulate appetite, increase feelings of fullness, and improve blood sugar control. They were originally developed to treat type 2 diabetes, but in recent years have become FDA-approved specifically to treat obesity under certain brand names such as Wegovy and Zepbound.

Fox News’ Daniela Genovese contributed to this report.