Pfizer Sues Novo: Accuses Rival of Antitrust Ploy to Control Obesity Market

Pfizer Inc. (PFE) has escalated its legal battle to retain control of obesity biotech firm Metsera, filing dual lawsuits against the startup and Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk in Delaware courts. The suits challenge Novo's $8.5 billion bid as an anticompetitive maneuver, with Pfizer arguing its $7.2 billion deal—approved for early antitrust clearance by the Federal Trade Commission—is legally binding and ready to close by November 13, according to a CryptoRank report.

The conflict centers on Metsera's experimental GLP-1 pipeline, which includes a monthly injectable therapy showing 14% average weight loss in trials and a chemically stabilized oral formulation. Analysts project these assets could generate $5 billion in peak sales, according to a NewsBytes report. Novo, which dominates the obesity market with Wegovy and Ozempic, outbid Pfizer by $1.3 billion, prompting Metsera's board to declare the offer "superior." Pfizer claims this decision violates merger agreement terms and regulatory risk assessments, alleging Novo's complex deal structure—featuring non-voting shares and a special dividend—is designed to evade antitrust scrutiny, according to an FXLeaders report.

Pfizer's legal strategy hinges on its regulatory head start: The FTC granted early termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino review on October 31, more than a week before the November 7 deadline, according to an AP News report. The company also argues Novo's bid constitutes an "illegal attempt by a dominant player to suppress competition," a claim Novo has dismissed as "meritless," CNBC reports. The lawsuits seek temporary restraining orders to block Metsera from terminating the Pfizer deal and force a shareholder vote on November 13, STAT reports.

The dispute underscores intensifying competition in the obesity drug sector, projected to reach $150 billion by 2030. Novo, reeling from market share losses to Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, aims to bolster its pipeline ahead of semaglutide patent expirations. Pfizer, meanwhile, seeks to enter the market after abandoning its oral obesity drug candidate, danuglipron, according to a TradingView post.

Metsera's shareholders, controlled by Population Health Partners and ARCH Venture Partners, face scrutiny for alleged collusion with Novo, per a PYMNTS report. The biotech firm has dismissed Pfizer's claims as "nonsense," vowing to defend the Novo bid in court, CNBC reports.

With a November 5 deadline for Pfizer to counter Novo's offer and a pending shareholder vote, Delaware courts may soon determine whether competitive concerns or contractual obligations prevail in this high-stakes pharmaceutical clash.