Novo Nordisk partners with Vivani on semaglutide implant

Novo Nordisk ↘ 0.75% has signed an agreement with Vivani Medical to evaluate NPM-139, a miniature subdermal semaglutide implant designed to deliver medication steadily over extended periods, the companies announced on Monday. The deal marks an effort by the Danish pharmaceutical giant to explore alternatives to the weekly injections that currently define the GLP-1 drug category.globenewswire+1

How the Implant Works

NPM-139 uses Vivani's proprietary NanoPortal platform technology and is under development for chronic weight management. The device is designed to be inserted under the skin during a brief outpatient procedure and could provide once or twice-yearly dosing, potentially eliminating the burden of weekly self-injections for patients who are obese or overweight.drugdeliverybusiness+1

The agreement is non-exclusive, meaning Novo Nordisk will conduct an internal evaluation of semaglutide implants prepared by Vivani without locking up the technology. Financial terms were not disclosed.fiercebiotech+1

Phase 1 Trial Ahead

Separately from the Novo Nordisk evaluation, Vivani received regulatory approval on June 24 to initiate SLIM-1, a Phase 1 open-label, randomized clinical trial of a low-dose NPM-139 implant in obese or overweight subjects, with Wegovy injections as an active comparator. The company expects to begin dosing in mid-2026. The study will enroll approximately 10 subjects per group over a four-week duration and aims to characterize safety, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability to support a potential Phase 2 dose-ranging study.investors.vivani+2

Strategic Context

The partnership comes as Novo Nordisk seeks to broaden its semaglutide franchise beyond injectable and oral formulations. According to Fierce Biotech, the deal reflects the company's push to explore new delivery mechanisms for its blockbuster weight-loss and diabetes drugs. For Vivani, the agreement with the world's largest maker of GLP-1 therapies provides validation of its implant platform as it moves toward human testing.fiercebiotech