Updated · Global Banking And Finance Review · Aug 3
Novo Nordisk Regains Obesity Momentum as Oral Wegovy Leads Lilly's Foundayo in $100 Billion Market
Updated
Updated · Global Banking And Finance Review · Aug 3
Novo Nordisk Regains Obesity Momentum as Oral Wegovy Leads Lilly's Foundayo in $100 Billion Market
3 articles · Updated · Global Banking And Finance Review · Aug 3
Summary
Oral Wegovy prescriptions have held up better than analysts expected since the U.S. launch in January, staying well ahead of Eli Lilly's newer Foundayo and giving Novo Nordisk a rare bright spot before August 5 results.
That resilience has helped lift Novo shares about 35% from a March low after a bruising 2025 marked by four guidance cuts, a CEO change and a restructuring that eliminated 9,000 jobs.
The rebound is still partial: Lilly's Zepbound remains the dominant U.S. injectable obesity drug, with weekly prescriptions more than double Wegovy's in recent months.
Novo is also taking a more aggressive stance beyond prescriptions, suing Lilly last month over alleged misleading U.S. marketing comparisons that Lilly denies.
Analysts now see a possible turning point for Novo, though scrutiny remains on whether it can sustain growth, broaden beyond obesity and diabetes, and compete in a U.S. market expected to exceed $100 billion by decade-end.