Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO) announced on Tuesday new real-world evidence demonstrating that escalating semaglutide dosage reduces major adverse cardiovascular events compared to switching to Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE:LLY) tirzepatide.
Real-World Data Highlights Cardiovascular Benefits
The retrospective analysis evaluated 636,525 adults with type 2 diabetes initially prescribed once-weekly 1 mg semaglutide injections.
Patients escalating to a 2 mg semaglutide dose were associated with a statistically significant 6% lower risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)—comprising all-cause death, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke—than those who switched to tirzepatide up to 15 mg.
At 365 days post-index, 67.2% of patients remained on semaglutide 1 mg, 29.2% escalated to 2 mg, and 3.6% switched to tirzepatide.
By the 720-day follow-up, 57.4% remained on semaglutide 1 mg, 36.9% escalated to 2 mg, and 5.7% switched to tirzepatide, reflecting ongoing treatment intensification. Roughly 31% of patients switching to tirzepatide reached doses of 10 mg or higher.
Strategic Expansion Into Oral Metabolic Therapies
In a separate update, the company announced an exclusive licensing agreement with Hengrui Pharma for HRS-1596, a phase 1-ready dual agonist targeting GLP-1 and GIP receptors.
Novo Nordisk secures global rights to HRS-1596 outside of mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
The total agreement value reaches up to $2.6 billion, subject to development, regulatory, and commercial milestones, including a $300 million upfront payment.
HRS-1596 promotes weight reduction and improves glycemic control by suppressing appetite, stimulating insulin secretion, and enhancing insulin sensitivity.
The drug candidate supports potential once-weekly oral administration for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Hengrui Pharma holds approval in China for Phase 1 trials, with the transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026.
In May, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (NYSE:BMY) partnered with Hengrui Pharma to develop a portfolio of 13 early-stage programs spanning oncology, hematology and immunology.
The deal follows the company’s earlier success with Sotyktu, an oral drug, which received FDA approval for treating adults with active psoriatic arthritis after demonstrating superior disease control compared to placebo in Phase 3 trials.
NVO Price Action: Novo Nordisk shares were down 1.34% to $38.19 at the time of publication on Tuesday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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