Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Compete for GLP-1 Pill Market Ahead of Medicare Coverage
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly showcased their competing GLP-1 weight-loss pills at the American Diabetes Association's Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, with Novo reporting over 3 million Wegovy pill prescriptions since launch and Lilly citing rapid growth for its Foundayo pill. The rivalry intensifies as Medicare prepares to cover GLP-1 drugs for obesity at $50 per month starting in July, opening access to millions of seniors who previously paid hundreds out of pocket. The Medicare rollout represents a major commercial inflection point that could reshape market share between the two drugmakers and set a precedent for obesity drugs as standard health care.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar announced that its oral GLP-1 drug Wegovy pill has surpassed 3 million prescriptions in roughly five months on the U.S. market, framing the milestone as evidence of accelerating momentum even after Lilly launched its competing pill, Foundayo, in April. Lilly CEO Dave Ricks said Foundayo prescriptions are 'markedly higher' than the 20,000 reported six weeks ago but declined to give a specific figure. Both companies are positioning their pills differently for the upcoming Medicare coverage program: Novo is emphasizing Wegovy's additional cardiovascular, kidney, and liver health benefits on its label, while Lilly is stressing Foundayo's convenience — it can be taken at any time of day with food and other medications, unlike Novo's pill, which requires fasting. Beyond the pill competition, Lilly presented Phase 3 data at the conference for its experimental triple agonist retatrutide, which produced an average 28% body weight loss, with nearly half of participants losing more than 30% — comparable to bariatric surgery outcomes. Novo's next pipeline candidate, CagriSema, has shown weight loss similar to Lilly's existing Zepbound and is awaiting an FDA approval decision expected in Q4 2025, though its efficacy has disappointed some investors relative to retatrutide. Broader insurance coverage of GLP-1 drugs remains contested, with Cigna recently announcing it would stop covering the medicines for its own employees, even as at least one analysis has found them cost-effective.
What's missing
The article does not detail the specific eligibility criteria or enrollment mechanics for the Medicare $50/month GLP-1 coverage program starting in July, nor does it clarify how many Medicare beneficiaries are expected to qualify. Additionally, independent clinical comparison data between Wegovy pill and Foundayo on efficacy and side-effect profiles is not discussed.
What different sources said
- CNBCCenter
Novo and Lilly are competing to win the GLP-1 pill market as they prepare for Medicare coverage
- Seeking AlphaCenter
As the GLP-1 race heats up, how can investors position themselves for the next wave of innovation? (LLY:NYSE)
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