Novo Nordisk (CPH: NOVO-B), a leading pharmaceutical company, has seen its weight-loss drug Wegovy (semaglutide) take the lead in total US prescriptions over its competitor Eli Lilly’s (NYSE: LLY) Zepbound (tirzepatide), according to Reuters. Despite this, Zepbound has seen more new prescriptions filled, indicating a close competition in a market projected to reach USD 105 billion by 2029. The current market is constrained by limited production capacity of GLP-1 agonists, a key class of drugs in weight loss management.
Forecasts suggest that Novo Nordisk is on track to capture over half of the weight-loss market this decade. Wegovy, with a 2-year head start over Zepbound, is the only drug in its class indicated for the risk reduction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Additionally, Novo Nordisk is developing an oral version of the novel molecule amycretin, which could further solidify its position in the market.
Eli Lilly, on the other hand, is not sitting idle. The company is making strategic moves, including the introduction of a direct-to-consumer drug delivery service that covers Zepbound, to capture a significant share of the growing weight-loss market.- Flcube.com
