Novo Nordisk Sues Rival Eli Lilly Over Advertising

Lilly defended the ads and pointed to what it says is the only trial comparing the company's respective drugs.

Drugmaker Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against rival Eli Lilly.

The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in New Jersey. It alleges that Lilly intentionally selected outdated studies to show the use of Monjaro and Zepbound lead to significantly more weight loss than Novo’s Ozempic and Wegovy.

The studies compared higher doses of Lilly’s medicine against lower doses of Novo’s drugs, while omitting newer, higher-dose versions that Novo said deliver greater weight loss. The lawsuit stated that Lilly knows the FDA has approved newer, more effective doses of Novo’s medicines.

The advertising campaigns have aired nationally, reaching millions of consumers. Lilly defended the ads and pointed to what it says is the only trial comparing the company’s respective drugs. Novo is seeking a permanent injunction requiring Lilly to pull the ads and to conduct a corrective ad campaign. If Lilly doesn’t voluntarily pull the ads, Novo intends to file a formal motion seeking a preliminary injunction.