--- title: "Novo Nordisk Outspends Eli Lilly On Wegovy, Ozempic Ads After Supply Crunch Eases" type: "News" locale: "en" url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/274344239.md" description: "Novo Nordisk significantly increased its U.S. advertising for Wegovy and Ozempic in 2025, spending an estimated $316 million and $169 million respectively, surpassing Eli Lilly's $131 million on Zepbound. This marks a 54% and 44% increase compared to 2024. The advertising surge follows a supply crunch in 2024. Novo Nordisk plans to promote a pill version of Wegovy and utilize direct-to-consumer channels. Despite the increased spending, Lilly's Zepbound has gained market share, with U.S. prescriptions surpassing Wegovy, giving Lilly a 60% market share in 2025." datetime: "2026-01-30T17:57:49.000Z" locales: - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/274344239.md) - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/274344239.md) - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/274344239.md) --- > Supported Languages: [简体中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/274344239.md) | [繁體中文](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/274344239.md) # Novo Nordisk Outspends Eli Lilly On Wegovy, Ozempic Ads After Supply Crunch Eases **Novo Nordisk A/S** (NYSE:NVO) sharply increased its U.S. advertising spend on its blockbuster GLP-1 drugs Wegovy and Ozempic in 2025, outpacing rival **Eli Lilly and Co** (NYSE:LLY) as competition for market share in the obesity and diabetes space intensified, according to data reviewed by Reuters. Citing data from advertising tracking firm MediaRadar, Reuters noted that Novo Nordisk spent an estimated $316 million promoting Wegovy and $169 million on Ozempic in the U.S. between January and September 2025. That represents increases of 54% and 44%, respectively, compared with the same period in 2024. In contrast, Lilly spent roughly $131 million advertising its obesity drug Zepbound during the same period, a sharp rise from $2 million a year earlier. The company also allocated about $83 million toward promoting its diabetes treatment Mounjaro. Combined, Novo Nordisk's advertising outlays for Wegovy and Ozempic reached approximately $487 million over the first nine months of 2025, more than double Lilly's estimated $214 million spend on Zepbound and Mounjaro. Both companies declined to comment on their advertising budgets. The renewed marketing push followed a period of supply constraints. The GLP-1 drugs were in shortage for much of 2024 as demand surged beyond manufacturing capacity. During that time, Novo Nordisk paused advertising and resumed it in 2025 as supply conditions improved, **David Moore,** Novo Nordisk's executive vice president of U.S. operations, told Reuters. Moore also said Novo Nordisk plans to begin advertising a pill version of Wegovy immediately. The company intends to support sales through cash-pay, direct-to-consumer channels, an approach influenced by uneven insurance coverage for GLP-1 drugs in the U.S., which has led many patients to pay out of pocket. The U.S. remains one of the few countries that allow direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines, a practice that has drawn criticism for contributing to high healthcare costs. Other drugmakers have also invested heavily in advertising, with **AbbVie Inc** (NYSE:ABBV) spending more than $850 million promoting arthritis drugs Skyrizi and Rinvoq during the first nine months of 2025. Political scrutiny has increased as well. **President Donald Trump** and **Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.** have introduced new disclosure rules aimed at discouraging aggressive drug advertising. Despite Novo Nordisk's heavier marketing spend, competitive pressures remain. Data released by Lilly in late 2024 showed patients using Zepbound lost 47% more weight than those treated with Wegovy in a large head-to-head trial. Market data further underscores the shift. U.S. prescriptions for Zepbound surpassed Wegovy last year, giving Lilly roughly 60% of the U.S. obesity drug market in 2025, Reuters reported, citing IQVIA data. **Price Action:** Novo Nordisk shares were up 0.08% at $59.38 and Eli Lilly and Co shares were up 1.54% at $1039.87 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data. _Photo by KK Stock via Shutterstock_ ### Related Stocks - [iShares US Medical Devices ETF (IHI.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IHI.US.md) - [State Street®HlthCrSelSectSPDR®ETF (XLV.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XLV.US.md) - [ProShares Ultra Nasdaq Biotechnology (BIB.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BIB.US.md) - [Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NVO.US.md) - [Direxion Daily LLY Bull 2X Shares (ELIL.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ELIL.US.md) - [Defiance Daily Target 2X Short LLY ETF (LLYZ.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/LLYZ.US.md) - [ARK Genomic Revolution ETF (ARKG.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/ARKG.US.md) - [iShares US Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IHE.US.md) - [Invesco Biotechnology & Genome ETF (PBE.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/PBE.US.md) - [First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech ETF (FBT.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/FBT.US.md) - [State Street® SPDR® S&P® Biotech ETF (XBI.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XBI.US.md) - [Vanguard Health Care ETF (VHT.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/VHT.US.md) - [Invesco Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBBQ.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IBBQ.US.md) - [iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IBB.US.md) - [iShares Global Healthcare ETF (IXJ.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/IXJ.US.md) - [ALPS Medical Breakthroughs ETF (SBIO.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/SBIO.US.md) - [Defiance Daily Target 2X Long NVO ETF (NVOX.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NVOX.US.md) - [Eli Lilly and Company (LLY.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/LLY.US.md) - [Defiance Daily Target 2X Long LLY ETF (LLYX.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/LLYX.US.md) - [VanEck Biotech ETF (BBH.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/BBH.US.md) - [SPDR® S&P Health Care Equipment ETF (XHE.US)](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/XHE.US.md) ## Related News & Research - [Novo Nordisk A/S Approves Board Changes](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280694583.md) - [Eli Lilly pushes for NHS drug price increases in return for its UK investment, FT reports](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280952509.md) - [Eli Lilly: Foundayo will be available with prescriptions accepted immediately and shipping from April 6](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281395595.md) - [Novo Nordisk slashes Wegovy prices to court uninsured patients](https://longbridge.com/en/news/281206892.md) - [2025 was a year of transition for Novo Nordisk, says Chairman](https://longbridge.com/en/news/280659331.md)