Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Novo Nordisk Eyes Hair-Loss Treatments Beyond Obesity Drugs
Novo Nordisk makes popular medicines for diabetes and weight loss.
The company is thinking about making medicines for hair loss too.
One reason is that hair loss can involve hormones, an area Novo understands well.
Its science chief said this is possible, but it may not be the company’s first new project.
Hair-loss treatment is not currently among eight conditions Novo plans to move into mid-stage testing soon.
Novo is also searching for treatments for heart, liver and blood problems.
The company wants more products because Eli Lilly has overtaken it in the obesity-drug market.
Its Ozempic and Wegovy patents are also expected to expire in the United States and Europe early next decade.
Novo Nordisk is considering hair-loss treatments as a potential new business area.
Chief Scientific Officer Martin Lange said the company could apply its endocrinology expertise to hair-loss research.
Hair loss is not among eight illnesses Novo expects to advance into mid-stage trials by late this year or early next year.
The company is seeking new uses for GLP-1 drugs and treatments for heart disease, liver and blood disorders.
Novo is diversifying after losing its lead in obesity drugs to Eli Lilly, while Ozempic and Wegovy face future patent expiry.
- Who
- Novo Nordisk, including Chief Scientific Officer Martin Lange and Chief Executive Officer Mike Doustdar.
- What
- The company is considering entering hair-loss treatment while seeking additional medicines and uses for its GLP-1 drugs.
- When
- The potential hair-loss move was discussed at a Bloomberg roundtable; Ozempic and Wegovy patents are expected to expire toward the beginning of the next decade.
- Where
- The patent-expiry concerns involve the United States and Europe.
- Why
- Novo is seeking new growth areas after losing its obesity-market lead to Eli Lilly and facing future patent expiry for key drugs.
- Company
- Novo Nordisk
- Potential new area
- Hair-loss treatment
- Relevant expertise
- Endocrinology, the study of hormones
- Current development outlook
- Novo expects to move treatments for eight illnesses into mid-stage trials by late this year or early next year; hair loss is not listed among them.
- Competitive pressure
- Novo has lost its lead in the obesity market to Eli Lilly.
- Patent outlook
- Ozempic and Wegovy face patent expiry in the United States and Europe toward the beginning of the next decade.
- Other research areas
- Heart disease, liver disorders and blood disorders