Bloomberg Talks Mike Doustdar Talks Strong Demand for Weight Loss Pills
Jan 13, 2026
Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk, leads the charge in obesity and diabetes treatments. He shares insights on the launch of an oral version of their popular weight loss drug Wegovy, highlighting its early success and unique formulation. Doustdar delves into the competitive landscape, discussing how their pill offers advantages over others. He also emphasizes the significance of scaling production and innovative pricing strategies. Lastly, he explores the transformative role of AI in accelerating drug discovery and improving patient access.
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Oral Peptide Pill Matches Injection Efficacy
- Novo Nordisk achieved 16.6% efficacy with an oral form equal to its injection, breaking assumptions about peptide pills.
- Mike Doustdar says this efficacy and CV benefits make the pill uniquely competitive in the market.
From Skepticism To Scaling Production
- Doustdar recounts skepticism that an oral peptide would survive stomach enzymes and that people called it impossible.
- He says Novo Nordisk solved the scientific challenge and then scaled production successfully.
Pill Is A High-Potency Peptide, Not A Small Molecule
- The pill is not a small-molecule chemical but a potent peptide, which changes manufacturing economics and potency expectations.
- Doustdar says Novo learned to scale this unique product and expects it to be a decent business.