Novo's Wegovy pill hits over 18,000 US prescriptions in strong debut week

Core Insights - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill has seen over 18,000 prescriptions in the U.S. during its first full week, indicating a strong start in the oral weight-loss drug market [1][4] - The early prescription data suggests robust uptake, surpassing previous launches of other GLP-1 medications, as the market for obesity treatments has matured [2][4] Group 1: Market Performance - Wegovy pill was prescribed 18,410 times in the week ending January 16, outperforming the initial launches of both Novo's injectable Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound [4] - The pill achieved 3,071 prescriptions within the first four days post-launch on January 5, showcasing strong initial demand [4] Group 2: Company Strategy and Stock Performance - Novo Nordisk, under new CEO Mike Doustdar, is focusing on the Wegovy pill to attract new consumers and regain market momentum against Eli Lilly after facing profit warnings and slowing growth [5] - Novo's shares have increased approximately 25% in January, reaching their highest level since July, reflecting positive market sentiment following the new product launch [5] Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The success of the Wegovy pill will depend on Novo's ability to attract U.S. consumers willing to pay out of pocket, diverging from traditional models reliant on insurance coverage [6] - Analysts view the early launch of Wegovy as a positive indicator for Eli Lilly's upcoming experimental pill, orforglipron, which is expected to receive FDA decision by April [6]