Novo Nordisk recently gained a significant advantage in the U.S. obesity drug market through a key deal making Wegovy the preferred anti-obesity medication for CVS Health’s Caremark insurer formulary, positioning it ahead of Lilly’s Zepbound for tens of millions of Americans1.
Novo Nordisk has submitted an oral (pill) version of Wegovy (oral semaglutide) for FDA approval; clinical trials showed up to 15% weight loss over 64 weeks for those taking the highest dose4.
Eli Lilly’s oral obesity pill candidate, orforglipron, showed significantly lower weight loss in its Phase 3 trial—11.2% body weight reduction at the highest dose over 72 weeks—compared to the weight loss from injectable competitors (Wegovy: 15%, Zepbound:
21% in trials)35.
Both Novo and Lilly aim to introduce effective obesity pills to access the growing market for safe, convenient, and effective oral treatments4. Novo’s oral semaglutide may have a stronger position because of the higher efficacy results demonstrated in trials compared to Lilly’s orforglipron pill34.
Despite recent financial and competitive challenges—including loss of market value and growing competition from Lilly—Novo is investing in direct-to-consumer channels and legal actions against makers of knockoff versions as part of its strategy to maintain market leadership1.
Sources:
1. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/novo-nordisk-wegovy-obesity-compounders-second-quarter-2025-earnings/756916/
3. https://www.statnews.com/2025/08/07/eli-lilly-obesity-pill-orforglipron-modest-results/
4. https://www.biopharmadive.com/news/novo-oral-semaglutide-fda-approval-application-obesity/745882/
5. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/daily-oral-glp-1-pill-effective-weekly-shots/story?id=124440685