Novo Nordisk expands obesity drug portfolio with Wegovy pill launch

Novo Nordisk is actively expanding its obesity treatment portfolio through new patents, diverse delivery methods, and next-generation active ingredients to maintain its market position against competitors like Eli Lilly.

The company is advancing several projects, including CagriSema, Cagrilintide, and Zenagamtide. A significant development is the expansion into oral medications; the European Commission recently approved oral semaglutide for weight reduction, and the Wegovy pill has officially launched in Germany, making it the first EU country to offer this oral GLP-1 therapy.

To protect its market share, Novo Nordisk is securing specific patents, such as formulations with very low or no phenol content in the US. The company has also taken legal action to defend its intellectual property, recently obtaining an injunction in the Netherlands against the sale of an unauthorized semaglutide nasal spray.

Despite strong demand for GLP-1 therapies—noted by a massive increase in prescriptions among children under 12 in the US since 2019—Novo Nordisk shares experienced a slight decline in New York trading following the Wegovy pill launch in Germany, reflecting investor scrutiny regarding the intensifying competitive landscape.