Novo Nordisk Gets US Approval for Wegovy Obesity Pill (3)

Novo Nordisk A/S won approval to sell a pill version of its blockbuster obesity shot Wegovy in the US, a crucial step in its effort to defend its market share from rival Eli Lilly & Co.

Novo will start selling the pill in the US in early January, the company said in a statement Monday. It is approved to help people lose weight or maintain previous weight loss over the long term.

The shares soared by as much as 11% in Copenhagen, the biggest intraday gain since August. Novo has fallen by almost half this year amid concern about the ...