- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Novo Nordisk Licenses Vivtex Tech for Up to $2.1 Billion to Deepen Obesity Push
Danish drugmaker aims to expand portfolio of next-generation obesity medicines with oral formulations
Published on Feb. 25, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Novo Nordisk, the company behind blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, has struck a licensing deal valued at up to $2.1 billion with U.S. startup Vivtex to gain access to its oral drug-delivery technologies. The collaboration aims to develop next-generation biologic medicines for obesity, diabetes and associated diseases in oral formulations, leveraging Vivtex's technologies and Novo Nordisk's experience.
Why it matters
Novo Nordisk is seeking to defend its position in the fast-growing but highly competitive obesity treatment market. Oral formulations of obesity drugs are expected to tap into demand from people who don't want injections, while offering the prospect of lower prices. The deal with Vivtex is part of Novo Nordisk's strategy to expand its pipeline of next-generation obesity medicines.
The details
Under the deal, Novo Nordisk will take the lead in developing, manufacturing and commercializing any new drugs resulting from the collaboration. Vivtex is eligible to receive up to $2.1 billion, including an upfront sum, research funding and additional payments tied to certain targets being reached, as well as royalties on future sales. Vivtex, founded by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has developed a gastrointestinal screening and formulation platform to identify oral therapeutics.
- The deal was announced on February 25, 2026.
The players
Novo Nordisk
A Danish pharmaceutical company that is a leader in the development and commercialization of obesity and diabetes treatments, including the blockbuster drugs Wegovy and Ozempic.
Vivtex
A U.S. startup founded by scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which has developed a gastrointestinal screening and formulation platform to identify oral therapeutics.
What’s next
The partnership with Vivtex is part of Novo Nordisk's broader strategy to expand its pipeline of next-generation obesity medicines. The company recently launched a pill version of its popular weight-loss medicine Wegovy and is working to line up more drug candidates to defend its position in the fast-growing but highly competitive obesity treatment market.
The takeaway
Novo Nordisk's licensing deal with Vivtex highlights the growing importance of oral formulations in the obesity treatment market, as pharmaceutical companies seek to tap into demand from patients who prefer pills over injections and offer more affordable options. The collaboration aims to leverage Vivtex's expertise in oral drug delivery to develop new biologic medicines that can be taken orally, expanding Novo Nordisk's portfolio of next-generation obesity treatments.
