KEY POINTS
- Novo Nordisk will introduce its weight-loss drug Wegovy in vial form later this year.
- The company already sells Wegovy as injectables and pills.
- Move comes amid competition with Eli Lilly’s weight-loss offerings.
Novo Nordisk announced plans to sell its obesity medication Wegovy in vials. The Danish pharma firm said it is exploring various device presentations for the drug.
Some vial presentations could launch later this year. Others may arrive in subsequent product rollouts.
Wegovy has built a leading position in the expanding weight-loss market. Novo already markets the medicine as weekly injections.
It also offers an oral version approved in late 2025. The vial format aims to broaden patient access. Novo Nordisk competes with rival Eli Lilly in this sector.
Lilly introduced vials for its weight-loss shot Zepbound in 2024. Those vials helped lower prices and expand dosage options online.
Novo’s move follows a year in which its market share slipped behind Lilly’s. Wegovy’s U.S. prescriptions were overtaken by Zepbound last year.
Introducing vials could help reclaim lost ground. Novo’s chief executive has said broadening presentations improves reach. It remains unclear how the vials will be priced. Analysts expect pricing will play a key role in competition.
Novo will likely launch vial sales first in the United States. Other markets may follow depending on regulatory approvals.
The global obesity-drug sector has seen rising demand. More patients are turning to GLP-1 medications for weight loss. Wegovy’s oral adoption has also broadened the overall user base.
Expanding formats could further increase uptake.
Novo’s initiative follows industry trends toward versatile delivery options. Healthcare providers have welcomed more flexible dosing forms.
Some patients prefer vials for ease of administration or cost. The industry expects continued innovation in weight-loss therapies.
Novo Nordisk’s move underscores the intensity of the obesity-drug race.
