Novo Nordisk Signs $1.4B Deal with Orbis Medicines for Oral Cardiometabolic Drugs

Key points

• Novo Nordisk and Orbis Medicines signed a deal on September 17, 2026, with total potential payments reaching $1.4 billion, including upfront fees and milestones.
• The collaboration targets 'high-value' cardiometabolic disease targets using macrocycles, which are ring-shaped molecules designed to be orally bioavailable.
• Orbis Medicines, founded by Novo Holding, has raised 116 million euros since 2024, including funding from Eli Lilly's venture arm.
• Novo recently rebranded from Novo Nordisk and has faced setbacks, including abandoning a monthly GLP-1 drug and two phase 3 trials for ziltivekimab.
• The deal utilizes Orbis's AI-enabled nGen platform to design macrocycles that can target both intra- and extracellular proteins.

Background

This deal follows a period of pipeline challenges for Novo Nordisk, including failed cardiovascular trials and abandoned GLP-1 programs, as noted in earlier coverage. The company had previously raised guidance in August 2026 due to strong GLP-1 sales but faced stock declines due to reliance on these therapies. The macrocycle approach aligns with broader industry interest in oral alternatives to injectables, similar to recent deals by Novartis and PeptiDream.

How outlets are covering it

Fierce Biotech emphasizes the strategic nature of the deal for Novo's cardiometabolic portfolio and the AI-driven platform of Orbis. Endpoints News highlights the involvement of Eli Lilly's venture arm in Orbis's funding, suggesting a competitive dynamic. Yahoo Finance and MarketScreener confirm the financial terms and the focus on cardiometabolic diseases but provide less detail on the specific technology. All sources agree on the $1.4 billion total value and the September 17, 2026, announcement date.

Why it matters

This partnership signals Novo Nordisk's pivot toward oral therapies to mitigate risks associated with injectable GLP-1 drugs and failed pipeline candidates. It also highlights the growing importance of macrocycles in treating cardiometabolic diseases, potentially shifting market dynamics away from traditional injectables. For Orbis, this is a validation of its AI-driven platform and a significant milestone as its first major pharma deal.

What to watch

Novo and Orbis will likely begin clinical development of macrocycle candidates for cardiometabolic diseases. The success of these oral therapies could influence the future of injectable GLP-1 drugs and other cardiometabolic treatments. Investors will watch for progress in the pipeline and any updates on the specific targets being pursued.