The FDA has approved updated labeling for Novo Nordisk’s Rybelsus (semaglutide) as a first-line treatment for adults with type 2 diabetes who have not previously been treated.

The drug works by increasing the release of insulin from the pancreas when blood sugar is high, decreasing the release of sugar from the liver and slowing the process of food leaving the stomach after eating.

Rybelsus was first approved in 2019 as an adjunct treatment, along with diet and exercise, to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.