Archive · 24 Jan 2026
Novo Nordisk Sued for Alleged Victoza Monopoly
A company called Novo Nordisk is being sued by a drug wholesaler named Smith Drug.
The lawsuit says Novo Nordisk used a sneaky trick called a 'pay-for-delay' scheme to keep cheaper versions of their diabetes drug, Victoza, off the market.
They allegedly paid another company, Teva Pharmaceutical, to delay making a generic version of Victoza.
The lawsuit claims that without this deal, the generic version would have been available in 2023.
Novo Nordisk's Victoza was a very popular and expensive drug, making over $5 billion in sales in the US in 2018.
The lawsuit is asking for money to compensate people who bought Victoza because of this alleged trick.
Novo Nordisk hasn't commented on the lawsuit yet.
Novo Nordisk sued by Smith Drug for allegedly using a 'pay-for-delay' scheme to maintain a monopoly on Victoza.
The lawsuit claims Novo Nordisk paid Teva Pharmaceutical to delay the release of a generic version of Victoza.
Victoza, approved in 2010, generated over $5 billion in US sales in 2018.
The generic version of Victoza was launched in 2024, but the lawsuit alleges it should have been available in 2023.
Smith Drug is seeking monetary damages on behalf of a proposed class of Victoza purchasers.
- Who
- Novo Nordisk, Smith Drug, Teva Pharmaceutical
- What
- Class action lawsuit alleging monopoly on Victoza through pay-for-delay scheme
- When
- Filed on January 24, 2026
- Where
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- Why
- Allegations of illegal delay of generic Victoza to maintain monopoly
- Company Sued
- Novo Nordisk
- Plaintiff
- Smith Drug
- Drug in Question
- Victoza
- Alleged Scheme
- Pay-for-delay
- Generic Drugmaker Involved
- Teva Pharmaceutical
- Year of Victoza Approval
- 2010
- Year of Generic Launch
- 2024
- Proposed Class
- Victoza purchasers
- Court Case Number
- 1:26-cv-00420
- Court Location
- US District Court for the Eastern District of New York