Novo claims 80% share of oral GLP-1 market as rivalry with Lilly intensifies

Novo's CEO Mike Maziar Doustdar said the company leads the oral GLP-1 market, stating the Wegovy pill holds about 80% of prescriptions since its launch in January.

Eli Lilly, however, reported that its oral GLP-1 product Foundayo captured roughly 40% of new patient starts in the second quarter, implying Novo's share is around 60%.

Doustdar contested Lilly's figures, arguing they rely on IQVIA data that covers most of Lilly's scripts but only about two-thirds of Novo's, and reiterated Novo's 80% market share claim during the third-quarter earnings call.

Despite the upbeat market share narrative, Novo's shares fell 6% after the earnings release, reflecting investor concern over a slight miss in the second-quarter results.