Novo Nordisk expands obesity drug reach through oral treatments and insurance bids

Novo Nordisk is aggressively expanding its presence in the obesity medication market through strategic capacity increases and new product formats. The company aims to scale production of oral GLP-1 treatments to serve 15 million patients by 2030, a move intended to capture a larger share of the market and provide an alternative to injectable therapies.

Real-world data from the OCTANE study suggests that oral semaglutide is a viable alternative for patients switching from injectable Wegovy or Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, with patients maintaining weight loss and reporting high satisfaction. This transition could broaden the addressable patient population by offering more convenient administration.

In South Korea, competition is intensifying as Novo Nordisk seeks national health insurance reimbursement for Wegovy. This move aims to lower costs for patients and regain market share from Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, which currently holds a dominant position. The push for reimbursement comes as Hanmi Pharmaceutical prepares to launch Eppe, a homegrown GLP-1 rival.