According to Novo, the Wegovy pill outperforms Lilly’s oral GLP-1
Wegovy semaglutide tablets.
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The Wegovy pill showed more pronounced weight loss and less distressing side effects than Eli Lillyis the rival pill approved this week, Novo Nordisk said on Thursday.
Orales Wegovy showed “significantly greater mean weight loss” than Orforglipron, which Lilly will sell starting next week under the brand name Foundayo, in an indirect study comparing the results of other studies.
Novo’s results evaluated previously published studies of the drugs and did not contain any new data points. Further details of the study will be presented at the Obesity Medicine Association’s annual conference next week, the Danish drugmaker said.
A separate analysis found that 84% of patients preferred a drug profile similar to that of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, and that of Foundayo, Novo said.
“These studies add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating the clinical strength of semaglutide and highlight features that patients value when choosing an obesity medication that fits their lifestyle,” said newly appointed Jamey Millar, executive vice president of U.S. operations.
Effectiveness versus ease
Novo and Lilly are both trying to shape the story of their respective pills in what is widely seen as the start of the next phase of the weight loss drug era. The introduction of pills as an alternative to injections is expected to expand the market as they are more easily distributed worldwide and preferred by consumers.
Eli Lilly CEO Dave Ricks told CNBC this week that Foundayo is more accessible and easier to integrate into everyday life.
Foundayo can be taken without any food restrictions, while the Wegovy pill must be taken first thing in the morning on an empty stomach with just a little water and patients must wait at least 30 minutes before eating anything.
Novo CEO Mike Doustdar dismissed the notion that these restrictions would limit adoption, telling CNBC in March that this was “absolutely not the case.”
“People are really interested because it is the most effective pill on the market right now,” Doustdar added.
Previous studies have shown that oral Wegovy results in an average weight loss of 16.6%, while Foundayo showed an average weight loss of 12.4% in patients who continued treatment.
Since the Wegovy pill was introduced in the US in early January, prescriptions have skyrocketed and over 600,000 patients have started taking the pill since then. Analysts have described it as one of the best launches of a new drug ever, with initial adoption faster than injectable versions.
However, the number of patients being prescribed the starter dose appears to be leveling off after a strong start, Barclays analyst James Gordon said on Wednesday.
“We believe the slowdown in new launches may be the result of patient stockpiling as physicians await the launch of LLY’s Foundayo (orforglipron),” Gordon wrote in a note to clients.
Several analysts said the development of Foundayo’s recipes will be a key factor in its share price over the next few weeks and months.
Expectations for Foundayo revenue in 2026 fell significantly last month, from about $4 billion to $1.6 billion, RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh said on Wednesday.
“Although there have been headwinds from the price decline in the GLP1 space, we believe there is significant upside potential with the expected expansion of Medicare Part D later this year,” Huynh noted.
An RBC survey of nearly 200 patients, prescribers and payers in March found that Foundayo would be a preferred oral option among patients because there are no dosage restrictions.
The differentiating factor
Novo said Thursday that the latest evidence suggests the Wegovy pill may offer differentiation, which has become an important consideration as the anti-obesity space is expected to become increasingly competitive in the next few years. Hopeful entrants are focusing on obesity-related diseases, weight maintenance and better side effect profiles.
The Wegovy pill also outperformed Foundayo in discontinuation rates, as the cross-study comparison released Thursday showed that Lilly’s new drug was associated with about 14 times the likelihood of treatment discontinuation due to side effects than the Wegovy pill.
The most common side effects of GLP-1 medications are gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
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Lilly shares have outperformed Novo’s American Depositary Receipts over the past year.
The market for obesity drugs may not be as big as expected, HSBC warned last month as it recommended clients sell shares in Lilly, which has significantly outperformed Novo over the past 18 months.
Expectations for Foundayo sales are exaggerated and are likely to disappoint, the broker said.
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