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Novo and Lilly Prepare to Launch Oral Weight-Loss Drugs, Challenging Injection Dominance
18 Aug
Summary
- Novo and Lilly developing oral GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to launch in 2026
- Lilly's pill less effective than Novo's in trials, but both aim to improve access
- Pricing for oral drugs expected to be on par with current injectable treatments
In the coming years, the obesity treatment market is poised for a significant shift as pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly prepare to launch their respective oral weight-loss medications. These new daily pills are expected to debut in 2026, challenging the current dominance of injectable GLP-1 drugs like Novo's Wegovy and Lilly's Zepbound.
While the oral formulations may not be as effective as the injections, with Lilly's pill trailing Novo's in clinical trials, the companies are focused on improving access to these therapies. Analysts predict the pricing for the new oral drugs will be on par with the current injectable treatments, which can cost upwards of $1,000 per month. This marks a departure from the typical industry practice of launching new medicines at higher prices.
The introduction of these oral GLP-1 medications is expected to fill a niche in the market, as some patients are averse to the idea of regular injections. However, industry experts believe the injections will continue to account for the majority of the global obesity drug market, which could reach $150 billion by 2030. The oral options are projected to capture a mid-teen percentage share of the market by the end of the decade.
