US-based pharmaceutical companies Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) and Eli Lilly (LLY.N) plan to launch weight-loss pills next year, which will likely be priced in line with their current injectable drugs. The pills are designed to meet patient needs and widen access to the market, particularly for those averse to injections.
Novo’s Wegovy and Lilly’s Zepbound, administered as weekly injections, have been highly effective in treating obesity. However, both companies have developed oral versions of these medications to cater to patients who prefer a different form of treatment.
Although Novo’s pill is expected to be more cost-effective than the injection due to lower production costs, it will not necessarily be cheaper than the current injectable drugs. Analysts expect the price of Lilly’s orforglipron to be similar to the current market prices for Wegovy and Zepbound.
The launch of these oral medications marks a departure from the usual practice of charging more for new medicines despite pressure to cut prices. US doctors, patients, and insurers are pushing for lower prices to make weight-loss drugs more affordable for the 40% of Americans who are obese.
Novo’s manufacturing challenge is a key concern, as its pill requires significantly more active ingredient than the highest-dose weekly Wegovy injection. However, Novo has invested billions of dollars in expanding semaglutide production, which should mitigate supply constraints at launch. Lilly also has a substantial inventory of orforglipron for next year’s expected launch.
The oral GLP-1 drugs are expected to fill a niche rather than displace injections, with analysts predicting that pills will account for only 15% of the global obesity drug market by 2030. The peak annual sales forecasts for Novo’s and Lilly’s pills range from $1 billion to $30 billion, although these estimates may change as data becomes available.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/wall-street-sees-new-obesity-pills-priced-near-wegovy-zepbound-2025-08-18