Novo Nordisk shares rise after Wegovy weight problems capsule launch

Shares of Novo Nordisk rose greater than 8% on Friday after early prescription knowledge confirmed an encouraging begin to the U.S. launch of the corporate’s new GLP-1 capsule for weight problems.

In a Friday observe, TD Cowen analysts referred to as it a “stable begin” for the first-ever weight reduction capsule, however stated “one knowledge level doesn’t make a development.” They cautioned that they should see extra knowledge to totally assess early demand for the Wegovy capsule, which formally launched Jan. 5 after profitable approval in late December. 

Nonetheless, the preliminary knowledge is a lift to the Danish drugmaker’s hopes of profitable again extra share from its chief rival, Eli Lilly, this yr within the booming weight problems and diabetes drug market. Eli Lilly received the bulk market share in early 2025 and is trailing intently behind Novo Nordisk within the capsule area, because it prepares for the upcoming launch of its personal oral drug for weight problems.

In a Friday observe, Leerink Companions analyst David Risinger stated round 3,100 prescriptions for the Wegovy capsule have been crammed within the first week of the launch, citing IQVIA knowledge for the week ending Jan. 9. Within the first week of the industrial launch of Eli Lilly’s standard weight problems injection, Zepbound, round 1,300 prescriptions have been crammed, and roughly 8,000 have been crammed within the second week, he famous. That injection received U.S. approval in late 2023. 

The TD Cowen analysts cited considerably totally different knowledge printed by Symphony via Bloomberg.

The analysts stated round 4,290 prescriptions have been crammed for Novo Nordisk’s capsule throughout its first full week of launch, with the bulk being for the beginning dose of the drug. They added that the info from their supply or IQVIA doubtless do not embrace prescriptions via Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer pharmacy or its telehealth companions. 

The analysts stated that compares with the roughly 1,900 prescriptions crammed for Zepbound throughout its first full week in the marketplace.

Assuming the Symphony knowledge is correct, the capsule “is already outstripping its injectable counterparts on the similar stage of their launch,” TD Cowen analyst Michael Nedelcovych wrote within the observe. A extra direct comparability between the capsule and the injections could be made primarily based on out there knowledge early subsequent week, although the figures might not show extra helpful for an additional two to a few quarters, he added. 

Nedelcovych stated he desires to see the total image on the direct-to-consumer channel, which holds “important promise” for the capsule’s launch. 

Demand might additionally shift as soon as Eli Lilly’s capsule, orforglipron, enters the market within the subsequent few months, he added.

Whereas Novo Nordisk’s drug has a head begin, it’s a peptide medicine with dietary necessities — no meals or drink for half-hour after taking the capsule with water — that will hinder uptake. Eli Lilly’s capsule is a small-molecule drug and never a peptide, that means it doesn’t have these restrictions.