第一财经·2025-11-04 08:14Core Viewpoint - Pfizer has filed a second lawsuit against Novo Nordisk, accusing it of anti-competitive behavior in its attempt to acquire weight-loss drug manufacturer Metsera, claiming that the bid is aimed at maintaining market share rather than genuine acquisition interests [2][6]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Accusations - Pfizer has submitted a lawsuit to the U.S. District Court in Delaware, alleging that Metsera's controlling shareholders colluded with Novo Nordisk to influence the development of new drugs [3]. - Pfizer has requested a temporary restraining order to prevent Metsera from terminating its agreement with Pfizer [5]. - The lawsuit claims that Novo Nordisk offered $6.5 billion in prepayment to Metsera's shareholders before regulatory review, including restrictive clauses that could delay or obstruct new drug clinical progress [7]. Group 2: Market Dynamics and Competitive Landscape - The ongoing legal battle highlights the intense competition between Pfizer and Novo Nordisk over Metsera, which has a promising weight-loss drug pipeline projected to generate $5 billion in annual revenue [10]. - Metsera has received seven acquisition offers this year, with Novo Nordisk's final bid valuing the company at $9 billion, exceeding Pfizer's offer by over $1 billion [10]. - Novo Nordisk's market dominance in weight-loss drugs is under threat, especially with the expiration of its core product GLP-1 drug semaglutide's patent in China by 2026, which is expected to lead to the entry of numerous generics [10]. Group 3: Industry Trends and Competitor Performance - The weight-loss drug market is seeing significant investments from major players like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, with Eli Lilly currently outperforming Novo Nordisk in recent data, leading to a nearly 40% drop in Novo Nordisk's stock price this year [11]. - Eli Lilly's GLP-1 drug tirzepatide generated $24.837 billion in revenue in the first three quarters, surpassing Merck's blockbuster cancer drug Keytruda [11]. - Other competitors in the weight-loss drug sector include Roche, Amgen, AstraZeneca, and Merck, all of which are entering the market through self-research and acquisition strategies [11]. Group 4: Emerging Players in China - In the Chinese market, Innovent Biologics' weight-loss drug product, mazhidutide, is in the early stages of growth, with several other companies like Heng Rui Medicine, Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Group, and East China Pharmaceutical actively investing in this field [12].