- Novo Nordisk argues that the ads unfairly compare low doses of Wegovy to Zepbound’s highest dose, ignoring weight-loss results from Wegovy’s highest dose approved in March.
- Eli Lilly said it ‘intentionally selected outdated studies’ and presents them as proof of superiority, according to Novo Nordisk’s press release.
- Eli Lilly’s ads state that Zepbound beat Wegovy’s weight loss: 50 pounds to 33 pounds (20.2% vs 13.7%), based on the only head-to-head trial.
- Novo Nordisk counters that patients using the highest dose of Wegovy lost 47 pounds (18.8%) in a separate trial, making Lilly’s data misleading.
- Eli Lilly responded that it discloses in its commercials that the comparison does not include Wegovy’s highest dose and calls the head-to-head trial the gold standard for comparison.
- Lilly stated: ‘Rather than compete on the merits of its products, Novo is asking a court to stop Lilly from communicating the results of that trial.’
Novo Nordisk has initiated legal action against Eli Lilly, alleging that its advertisements for Zepbound misrepresent the efficacy of Wegovy, Novo's GLP-1 weight-loss drug. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey, claims that Eli Lilly's ads unfairly compare low doses of Wegovy to Zepbound's highest dose, ignoring the superior results from Wegovy's highest dose, which was approved in March.1
Novo Nordisk argues that Eli Lilly “intentionally selected outdated studies” to support its claims, stating that the ads suggest Zepbound outperforms Wegovy, with reported weight losses of 50 pounds for Zepbound compared to 33 pounds for Wegovy (20.2 percent body weight versus 13.7 percent). However, Novo Nordisk points to separate clinical trial data showing that patients using Wegovy's highest dose lost 47 pounds (18.8 percent), challenging the validity of Eli Lilly's comparisons.
In response, Eli Lilly maintains that it clearly discloses in its commercials that the comparison does not include Wegovy's highest dose, labeling the head-to-head clinical trial as the “gold standard” for such comparisons. Eli Lilly criticized Novo Nordisk's lawsuit, stating, “Rather than compete on the merits of its products, Novo is asking a court to stop Lilly from communicating the results of that trial.”5
The outcome of this legal battle could significantly impact the competitive landscape of the GLP-1 medication market, as both companies vie for dominance in the lucrative weight-loss sector.
“Novo Nordisk contends Eli Lilly's ads compare low doses of Wegovy to Zepbound's highest dose, ignoring the 47-pound weight loss from Wegovy's highest dose approved in March. Eli Lilly responds that its commercials disclose the exclusion and calls the head-to-head trial the 'gold standard' for comparison.”
