On December 22, 2025, regulatory authorities granted approval for an oral formulation of semaglutide for chronic weight management, marking Novo Nordisk’s first GLP-1 pill option. This milestone expands the company’s product portfolio beyond injectable therapies and positions it to capture share among patients who have been hesitant to initiate injectable regimens. Clinical data from the OASIS 4 trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed a 13.6% mean weight reduction over 64 weeks in the full analysis set, rising to 16.6% among participants with full adherence. The company has announced a full U.S. launch scheduled for early January 2026, with dosing instructions requiring administration on an empty stomach and a 30-minute separation from food or other medications.

Novo Nordisk implemented substantial price cuts for its flagship weight-loss drug in China, reducing the two highest monthly doses by approximately 48%, to between 987 yuan and 1,284 yuan. While management cited patient affordability and market competitiveness ahead of the semaglutide patent expiration in 2026, the adjustment contributed to a near-2% decline in the company’s share performance on the first trading day following the announcement. China represents more than 15% of global GLP-1 revenues, underscoring the trade-off between volume expansion and per-unit profitability in the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.

With the semaglutide patent set to lapse in 2026, local pharmaceutical manufacturers in China and other markets are preparing biosimilar and follow-on formulations, while Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide continues to gain traction under its dual-agonist mechanism. In November 2025, Novo Nordisk pre-emptively cut injectable semaglutide prices by up to 37% in select regions to defend market share. Industry analysts estimate that by mid-2026, at least three domestic competitors will launch lower-cost semaglutide analogues, potentially eroding Novo Nordisk’s leading GLP-1 market share, which currently stands at roughly 60% globally based on prescription volume.

Recent surveys indicate that 12.4% of U.S. adults now report using GLP-1 medications for weight management, more than double the 5.8% recorded in February 2024, driven by growing awareness and guideline updates. Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 franchise generated an estimated 42 billion dollars in sales through the first three quarters of 2025, accounting for over 70% of total company revenue. Management forecasts sustained mid-teens percentage growth into 2026, supported by the oral indication launch, expanding reimbursement programs, and new clinical data under submission for cardiovascular and renal outcome benefits.