Novo Nordisk‘s Obesity Pill Shows 17% Weight Loss in Trial, Stock Jumps 7%
NEW YORK - Shares of Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) surged more than 7% in pre-market trading on October 18th, following the declaration of triumphant clinical trial results for an oral semaglutide pill targeting obesity. The pill demonstrated an average weight reduction of 16.6% in patients over 64 weeks, mirroring the efficacy of Novo Nordisk’s existing blockbuster injection, Wegovy.
The results come from the Phase 3 OASIS 4 clinical trial. Novo Nordisk anticipates seeking approval from the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before the end of the year, with production slated to occur in the United States upon approval – aligning with recent calls for expanded domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing.
“We have secured the same efficacy and safety as the injection as a pill,” stated Martin Holstrangge.
The progress positions Novo Nordisk at the forefront of a shifting obesity treatment landscape, as the market transitions from injectable medications to oral options. Competition is intensifying, with Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY) developing its own oral obesity treatment, “Opo Glypron,” which showed an average 12.4% weight loss in trials. While Lilly highlights Opo Glypron’s superior blood sugar control compared to semaglutide, Novo Nordisk maintains its pill boasts a stronger weight loss effect.
Novo nordisk recently announced a restructuring plan under new CEO Mike Dowstar,focusing investment on diabetes and obesity treatments and related complications. The company’s strategic shift underscores the growing importance of these markets, with the competition for market share expected to be a major battleground in the global pharmaceutical industry.
