Daily tablets are reshaping the race for obesity treatments and widening the market.
New GLP-1 pills suppress appetite like the injections but are easier to take and cheaper.
Analysts expect global sales to approach $200bn within the next decade.
Novo Nordisk launched the first oral Wegovy in the US, with rapid early uptake.
Many patients are switching from weekly jabs because pills feel more convenient and provide steadier appetite control.
They also remove the need for refrigeration and injections.
Rival Eli Lilly is preparing its own tablet, intensifying competition.
Oral drugs are slightly less effective than injections, so people with severe obesity may stay on jabs.
However, pills are expected to attract new users who were reluctant to start injectable therapy.
Rising obesity rates and broader insurance coverage are driving demand.
High prices, side-effects and limited public funding still restrict access in many countries.
Researchers believe cheaper oral treatments could improve cost-effectiveness for health systems.
More companies are developing next-generation obesity drugs and combination therapies.
Falling costs and simpler formats are turning weight-loss medication into a mass market.
