Popular weight loss drugs Wegovy and Zepbound will soon be available in pill form.
Pharmaceutical giants Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) and Eli Lilly and Co (NYSE:LLY) are actively promoting pill versions of their successful weight-loss drugs, expected to hit the market as early as next year, Bloomberg reported.
The new pills aim to capitalize on the popularity of drugs like Lilly's Zepbound and Novo's Wegovy, which have seen soaring valuations and attracted other industry players like Pfizer Inc (NYSE:PFE). and AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN).
But despite anticipation for more accessible and less side-effect-ridden alternatives, these pills face significant challenges. Novo's existing pill, Rybelsus, has a hefty price tag of $936 for a one-month supply, comparable to its injections.
Pills are generally easier to manufacture, store, and transport than injections, yet pricing may not reflect cost advantages. Novo's high-dose Rybelsus for weight loss, awaiting European approval, exhibited limitations, requiring daily consumption on an empty stomach with a half-hour wait before eating, and reported more side effects than Wegovy injections. The pills use more active ingredients, causing potential shortages, and Novo's plans for US approval depend on manufacturing considerations.
Several other companies, including Pfizer, Viking Therapeutics (NASDAQ:VKTX) Inc., and Structure Therapeutics Inc., are also developing obesity pills. AstraZeneca, which recently licensed a pill from China's Eccogene, envisions a cheaper product that could appeal to a broader market, with CEO Pascal Soriot anticipating a shift towards more affordable weight-loss solutions.
Analysts foresee a continual influx of new obesity drugs over the next five to ten years.