Novo Nordisk, U.S. Biotech Company Team Up to Create Obesity Pills

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on May 16, 2025.

By I. Edwards HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 16, 2025 — Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk is teaming up with California-based biotech Septerna to develop new pills to treat obesity, type 2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases.

The deal could be worth up to $2.2 billion for Septerna. This includes more than $200 million in upfront and short-term milestone payments, plus future rewards tied to research, development and sales. Septerna will also get royalties on any future product sales, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Novo Nordisk will pay all the research and development costs for the project.

The U.S. biotech company has developed a platform that finds and develops drugs that target special proteins called G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

These proteins help pass chemicals from outside cells to the inside. Many major drugs on the market today also target GPCRs.

Novo Nordisk’s best-known drug, Wegovy, targets a GPCR called GLP-1. Eli Lilly’s popular weight-loss drug Zepbound targets both GLP-1 and another GPCR called GIP.

“Septerna has demonstrated strong capabilities in GPCR drug discovery," Marcus Schindler, chief scientific officer at Novo Nordisk, told The Wall Street Journal.

“We are excited about the opportunity to develop oral small molecule medicines directed at multiple targets,” he added.

The two companies plan four programs to create pills that target GPCRs including GLP-1, GIP and glucagon — which are important proteins involved in blood sugar and appetite control, The WSJ said.

Right now, leading weight-loss drugs must be injected into the body. Pill versions could make the drugs more convenient for patients and easier to ship and store.

About one-third of drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) target GPCRs, according to Novo Nordisk. But an estimated 75% of GPCR targets have not yet been used in medicine, meaning there’s still a big opportunity for discovery.

Septerna’s stock jumped 69% in premarket trading after the deal was announced. Novo Nordisk’s stock rose 1.2% in European trading.

Sources

  • The Wall Street Journal, May 15, 2025
  • Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

    Source: HealthDay

    Read more

    Disclaimer

    Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

    The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

    Popular Keywords