Novo Nordisk has struck a collaboration and licensing deal with U.S. biotech Septerna to develop oral small molecule medicines for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardio-metabolic diseases that could be worth up to $2.

The obesity drug helped people trim about two inches more off their waists than Wegovy in the first head-to-head study of the rival medicines.

At 72 weeks, participants using Zepbound saw an average weight-loss reduction of 20.2% versus 13.7% with Novo Nordisk’s own treatment, Eli Lilly said of the results presented at the European Congress on Obesity and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) announced a new $2.2 billion deal with San Francisco-based biotech Sapterna (SEPN) for obesity pills — the latest in a series of moves by the Danish drugmaker as it hopes to maintain its position as one of two leaders in the hot obesity market.

Novo Nordisk partners with U.S. biotech Septerna in a $2.2 billion deal to develop oral small molecule drugs for obesity and metabolic diseases. This collaboration enhances Novo's position in the expanding obesity market.