By Sriparna Roy
Jan 23 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill was prescribed 18,410 times in the U.S. in the first full week after its launch in an encouraging start to the oral weight-loss drug race, according
to analysts that cited IQVIA data.
Investors are closely watching prescriptions data to see if the Danish drugmaker can press its first-mover advantage against rival Eli Lilly in a competitive weight-loss market.
The pill hit 3,071 U.S. prescriptions in the first four days after its launch on January 5, according to IQVIA data. The firm did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
"We note this is tracking ahead of other GLP-1 launches," Guggenheim analysts said in a note.
Oral obesity treatments offer patients greater flexibility and a needle-free alternative, although injectable medications are still expected to dominate for years to come.
"The early oral Wegovy launch data is very strong, albeit in a now far better established obesity market versus building the obesity market," Barclays analyst James Gordon said.
Novo, under a new CEO who took over last year, is banking on the pill version of its blockbuster Wegovy treatment to draw new consumers as it works to regain momentum against Lilly, after profit warnings and slowing growth weighed on its shares last year.
Novo's shares have been rising steadily since the turn of the year, up around 25% in January. The stock rose 2.5% on Friday to hit its highest level since late July, when CEO Mike Doustdar took over amid sliding sales.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make a decision on Lilly's experimental pill orforglipron by April.
"We think the early oral Wegovy launch is directionally encouraging for orfo," said Jefferies analyst Akash Tewari, adding he expects Lilly's pill to be predominantly used by patients who prefer an oral therapy.
Guggenheim analysts also noted a spike in U.S. Google search trends for NovoCare and Wegovy in January following the launch of the pill.
Searches for Novo's NovoCare Pharmacy were also running ahead of LillyDirect, the direct-to-consumer platform of Lilly, this month, they said.
Searches related to tirzepatide, the chemical name for Lilly's Zepbound injection, still led the category, the note said, while interest also increased for Novo telehealth partners Ro and LifeMD as well as Hims & Hers.
(Reporting by Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru and Maggie Fick in London; Editing by Maju Samuel and Devika Syamnath)
