Novo Nordisk has shared the scientific journey behind turning an injectable biologic medicine into a pill — a challenge researchers have wrestled with since the 1920s, beginning with early attempts at oral insulin. The core obstacle: the digestive system cannot distinguish a protein-based drug from ordinary food, meaning stomach acid and enzymes typically destroy such medicines before they can work.
The company’s breakthrough combined two innovations. First, researchers engineered a stabilized version of GLP-1, a hormone central to diabetes and obesity treatment, to withstand stomach conditions. Second, they paired it with SNAC, a carrier compound licensed from partner Emisphere, which temporarily shields the medicine long enough for absorption into the bloodstream.
This work led to oral semaglutide, approved for type 2 diabetes in 2019 and still the only oral GLP-1 available for that condition. In 2025, the U.S. approved an oral semaglutideformulation for weight management as well.
Novo Nordisk describes the advance as more than a convenience upgrade — calling it a foundation for future medicines designed to be easier for patients to access.
Written By: Sayan Das
Graphics by: Pramit Hazra
