The European Medicines Agency has approved an expanded authorization for Wegovy by Novo Nordisk, allowing the drug to be released in tablet form for the treatment of obesity, according to Medical Xpress.

The new formulation will be used alongside the already available injectable version. The decision effectively clears the way for the first oral GLP-1 receptor agonist for weight loss in European Union countries.

Regulators noted that the tablet version is recommended for adult patients, while the injectable form may be prescribed from the age of 12.

Final legal approval still needs to be formally confirmed by the European Commission, although this is considered a technical procedure.

A similar oral formulation had previously been approved in the United States in December. Since then, demand for the medication has risen sharply, with the company reporting more than 200,000 prescriptions per week.

Novo Nordisk plans to launch the new formulation in additional markets over the coming months. Pricing will be determined separately in each EU country.

The launch of the tablet version is seen as an important strategic step for the company amid intensifying competition with American drugmaker Eli Lilly, which is actively promoting its own weight-loss medication.