Novo Nordisk files lawsuit against Eli Lilly for allegedly misleading consumers with outdated clinical trial data in obesity drug advertisements.
Novo Nordisk filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against Eli Lilly, alleging the company uses "false and materially misleading" advertisements for its weight-loss and diabetes medications. The Danish pharmaceutical company claims Eli Lilly intentionally selected outdated clinical trials to make its drugs, Zepbound and Mounjaro, appear superior to Novo's Wegovy and Ozempic. Specifically, Novo Nordisk argues that Eli Lilly compared its highest doses against lower doses of Novo's treatments, omitting newer, high-dose versions that offer more comparable weight loss. John Kuckelman, the group general counsel for Novo Nordisk, stated that the company has a responsibility to provide accurate information to patients. Eli Lilly defended its campaigns, noting that the Surmount-5 trial remains the only direct, head-to-head randomized clinical trial comparing the two molecules. The company maintains that its advertising is grounded in transparent scientific evidence. Novo Nordisk is seeking a court order to stop the current ads and requires Eli Lilly to issue corrective advertising to ensure consumers can make informed treatment decisions.