Novo Nordisk Adds Antibody Platform Via Ablexis Deal as Lilly Closes In on EU Oral Obesity Market
Published on 10/20/2026 at 11:01 | Editorial boerse-global.de
Novo Nordisk has moved to broaden the technological base of its early-stage pipeline, signing a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Ablexis on 14 October. The deal gives the Danish drugmaker access to the AlivaMab Mouse platforms, which are built around the discovery of novel antibodies. Under the terms, Novo Nordisk can independently research, develop and — if the science holds up — commercialise biologics derived from AlivaMab antibodies. Neither party disclosed the financial details.
The tie-up lands at a moment when the company's competitive position in metabolic disease is under scrutiny. Reuters reported that a European Medicines Agency committee has recommended approval for Eli Lilly's Foundayo (Orforglipron), an oral treatment for obesity that also covers type-2 diabetes. It is the second oral obesity therapy to win a positive opinion from the EU regulator; until now Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill held that ground alone. The recommendation points to sharper competition in tablet-based therapies across Europe.
Novo Nordisk's own regulatory file is advancing too. The EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) issued a positive opinion on 15 October recommending an adjustment to the marketing authorisation for the company's Kyinsu product, shoring up the European regulatory footing of that portfolio item.
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Novo Nordisk?
Alongside the pipeline and label news, the group is steadily buying back its own stock. Since the programme began in February, Novo Nordisk had repurchased 39,074,179 B shares by mid-October, spending DKK 10,875,024,304 in total. The framework is capped at DKK 15 billion, and the company had already reported earlier progress figures about a week before the latest update. The purchases trim the number of shares in circulation and support the capital structure while management balances operational investment against shareholder returns.
Trading has been choppy. The stock closed at EUR 34.25 on the previous day, down 0.7%, before turning higher on Tuesday to EUR 34.53, a gain of 0.8%. Year to date, the shares are still down 22% as investors weigh the company's future market position against mounting competition.
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