Novo Nordisk, MIT Startup to Make Oral Obesity Drugs

Novo Nordisk Partners With MIT-Backed Startup to Develop Oral Obesity Drugs

Novo Nordisk has struck a deal with Vivtex, a biotech co-founded by MIT professor Robert Langer, to develop oral versions of obesity and diabetes treatments. The partnership could eliminate the need for weekly injections that have defined the GLP-1 drug revolution.

DT Editorial AI

Feb 25, 2026·4 min read·859 words

From Injection to Pill

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical giant behind the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy and diabetes treatment Ozempic, has signed a deal with Vivtex to develop oral formulations of obesity and diabetes drugs. The partnership with the Boston-based startup, co-founded by legendary MIT professor Robert Langer, represents a major step in the race to make GLP-1 treatments more accessible and convenient for the millions of patients who currently rely on weekly injections.

The deal underscores one of the biggest challenges facing the booming weight-loss pharmaceutical market: while demand for GLP-1 drugs has been extraordinary, the requirement for regular injections remains a significant barrier for many patients. An effective oral alternative could dramatically expand the addressable market by reaching people who are unwilling or unable to self-inject, potentially adding billions of dollars in revenue for whichever company cracks the formulation first.

Specific financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. However, the partnership signals Novo Nordisk's willingness to look beyond its own internal research pipeline to solve the oral delivery challenge, tapping into Vivtex's specialized expertise in converting injectable medications into pill form.

The Science of Oral Drug Delivery

Turning an injectable drug into an effective pill is far more complex than simply putting the active ingredient into a capsule. GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide, the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy, are peptide-based drugs. Peptides are notoriously difficult to deliver orally because the digestive system is specifically designed to break down proteins and peptides before they can enter the bloodstream.

Vivtex has been developing technology to overcome this biological barrier since its founding approximately eight years ago. The startup was created by three MIT scientists: Robert Langer, Giovanni Traverso, and Thomas von Erlach, who serves as CEO. Their approach involves proprietary formulation technologies that protect peptide drugs from degradation in the stomach and intestines while enhancing their absorption into the bloodstream.

Robert Langer is one of the most prolific inventors in the history of biomedical engineering. The MIT professor has founded or co-founded dozens of companies, most notably Moderna, the mRNA vaccine maker that became a household name during the COVID-19 pandemic. His involvement with Vivtex lends significant scientific credibility to the company's oral delivery platform.

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The GLP-1 Gold Rush

The market for GLP-1 drugs has exploded over the past several years. Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Ozempic, along with Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound, have generated tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue and transformed both companies into some of the most valuable pharmaceutical firms in the world. The drugs have proven effective not only for weight loss and diabetes management but are being studied for potential benefits in heart disease, kidney disease, sleep apnea, and addiction.

Despite this success, the injectable delivery method limits adoption. Some patients have needle phobia, while others find the weekly injection regimen inconvenient or stigmatizing. In many parts of the world, cold-chain requirements for injectable biologics create distribution challenges. An oral formulation would address all of these barriers while potentially reducing manufacturing and distribution costs.

Novo Nordisk already markets Rybelsus, an oral form of semaglutide approved for type 2 diabetes. However, Rybelsus has significant limitations: it must be taken on an empty stomach with minimal water, patients must wait at least 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything else, and its bioavailability is significantly lower than the injectable version. Vivtex's technology could help overcome these limitations.