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Novo Nordisk Pushes Back Against Lilly as Oral Wegovy Fuels U.S. Comeback

Analysts and investors will use this quarter’s results to judge whether the pill-driven momentum can make Novo’s turnaround durable.

An illustration photo shows boxes of Wegovy (semaglutide) tablets in this illustration picture taken in Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, U.S. June 16, 2026.  REUTERS/Hannah Beier/Ilustration/File Photo

Overview

  • Novo’s shares have risen about 35% from a March low as the company shifts to a more aggressive commercial stance backed by its oral Wegovy pill.
  • Prescription data from IQVIA shows oral Wegovy demand stronger than many analysts expected and higher than Lilly’s oral Foundayo, though some Foundayo channels may be undercounted.
  • Eli Lilly still holds a clear lead in injectables, with Zepbound’s weekly prescriptions running more than double Novo’s injectable Wegovy in recent months.
  • Novo has filed a U.S. federal false-advertising suit against Lilly over efficacy comparisons that exclude Novo’s higher-dose Wegovy, and Lilly has denied the claims.
  • Investors and analysts say Q2 results will test whether Novo’s recovery can stick, with risks including U.S. pricing pressure, later generic competition and the company’s recent failed heart-disease trial.