Why the weight-loss drugs battle will intensify in 2026, explained in 5 charts
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Earlier this month Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk launched its oral Wegovy weight-loss pill in the US, for "needle-averse patients". The starting dose is priced at $149 a month for patients paying in cash, compared to the injectable version's list price of more than $1,300.
Novo executives project that oral pills could capture more than a third of the total obesity drug market by 2030. Its rival Eli Lilly is expected to receive approval from the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for its own oral weight-loss drug, Orforglipron, by March 2026. These moves reflect intense competition in the weight-loss drugs market.
This year, competition is set to intensify in the US and increase radically in other markets around the world. The US weight-loss drugs market is currently dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, though the balance of power has shifted. Novo Nordisk was the pioneer, launching Ozempic for diabetes in 2018 and Wegovy for obesity in 2021, thereby enjoying a significant first-mover advantage.
These drugs belong to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic a natural hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, leading to significant weight loss. Eli Lilly entered later with Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity, and has rapidly gained ground, capturing about 60-70% of US obesity prescriptions by 2025, compared to Novo's 30-40%. Head-to-head trials show Eli's injection delivers roughly 47% more weight loss than Wegovy, and the company has maintained stronger production capacity.
Its revenues grew 54% year-on-year in the September quarter of 2025, driven by weight-loss drugs, compared to Novo's 12% growth. Investors have responded accordingly. Novo's market
. Read on livemint.com