Vivani, Novo Nordisk Partner on Semaglutide Weight-Loss Implant

Vivani Medical has entered into a new agreement with Novo Nordisk that will allow the Danish drugmaker to evaluate Vivani’s NPM-139 semaglutide implant, a long-acting treatment candidate being developed for chronic weight management.

The agreement gives Novo Nordisk the opportunity to assess NPM-139, which uses Vivani’s proprietary NanoPortal implant technology to deliver semaglutide over an extended period. Vivani said the deal does not include exclusivity rights for NPM-139 or its NanoPortal platform, allowing the company to continue pursuing additional partnerships and development opportunities for the technology.

NPM-139 is designed as an ultra long-acting implant that could potentially provide semaglutide treatment through once- or twice-yearly administration. The candidate is being developed to address the growing demand for more convenient treatment options in obesity and chronic weight management, particularly among patients who may prefer alternatives to regular injectable GLP-1 therapies.

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic products and is widely used in the treatment of obesity, weight management and type 2 diabetes. However, current semaglutide treatments generally require weekly injections, creating an opportunity for long-acting delivery technologies that may reduce treatment burden and improve adherence.

Vivani President and Chief Executive Officer Adam Mendelsohn said Novo Nordisk’s interest in evaluating the implant reflects the potential commercial opportunity for the company’s GLP-1 implant portfolio.

“The new agreement announced today supporting our semaglutide implant program in chronic weight management demonstrates Novo Nordisk’s interest in evaluating our technology and its lead semaglutide application,” Mendelsohn said.

He added that Vivani believes its NanoPortal implants could serve a growing group of patients seeking longer-lasting treatment options, while retaining the ability to discontinue treatment if necessary. Unlike some long-acting injectable therapies, an implant may be removed if a patient experiences tolerability concerns or requires treatment to be stopped.

The announcement comes as the obesity drug market continues to expand rapidly, driven by increasing demand for GLP-1 receptor agonists and broader interest in therapies that can support long-term weight reduction. Drug developers are increasingly exploring alternative delivery methods, including oral formulations, monthly injections and implant-based systems, to differentiate products and improve patient convenience.

Vivani separately said it expects to begin a Phase I randomised, first-in-human study of NPM-139 in mid-2026. The study will compare the semaglutide implant with Wegovy injections as an active comparator.

The Phase I trial will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of NPM-139. If the study produces positive results, Vivani plans to advance the candidate into a Phase II dose-ranging trial.

The company has not disclosed financial terms of the agreement with Novo Nordisk or provided further details on the scope and timeline of Novo Nordisk’s evaluation.