Novo Nordisk A/S is following in rival Eli Lilly & Co.’s footsteps by selling its hit weight-loss drug Wegovy directly to US patients at a discount.

Mounting competition in the sector and rising obesity have led the pharmaceutical company to start selling the drug directly to consumers.

Novo Nordisk on Monday revealed weaker-than-expected data from a second late-stage trial of its obesity drug candidate CagriSema, knocking shares and stoking worries that rival Eli Lilly may be gaining an edge over the company in the weight-loss drugs market.

Roche agreed to develop a weight-loss drug with Danish biotech Zealand Pharma, pressuring Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.

Key Takeaways Roche moved to enter the booming weight-loss drug market now dominated by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.The Swiss pharmaceutical firm signed an exclusive agreement with Zealand Pharma to produce treatments using Zealand's experimental petrelintide injectable.