Novo’s Obesity Pill TV Ad Includes Misleading Claims, FDA Says

The US Food and Drug Administration said a TV advertisement for Novo Nordisk A/S’s new weight-loss pill included “false or misleading” claims about the drug’s ability to help users shed pounds, adding to the drugmakers’ recent woes.

The FDA said the television spot “misleadingly” suggests that Wegovy in its pill form offers an advantage over other weight-loss drugs. The agency took specific issue with the lines “live lighter” and “a way forward,” which appeared in the ad, according to its letter to Novo dated Feb. 5.

“Additionally, they misleadingly imply benefits beyond physical weight loss such as emotional ...