Pfizer Boosts Bid for Metsera Amid Intensifying Rivalry with Novo Nordisk in Obesity Drug Market

Pfizer Inc. has reportedly increased its takeover offer for Metsera, a U.S.-based obesity drug developer, signaling its determination to outpace Danish rival Novo Nordisk in the lucrative weight-loss treatment market. According to a Bloomberg report, Pfizer’s new proposal surpasses its previous offer of $86.20 per share, which included milestone payments. While specific financial details of the revised bid were not disclosed, the move highlights Pfizer’s growing interest in strengthening its foothold in the rapidly expanding obesity and metabolic disease sector.

The development follows Novo Nordisk’s decision to raise its own bid for Metsera on Thursday, mere hours after Pfizer matched Novo’s earlier $10 billion proposal late Wednesday. This back-and-forth bidding war underscores the intensifying competition between the two pharmaceutical giants, both of which are seeking to secure innovative treatments that could dominate the global obesity drug market.

Metsera has emerged as one of the most sought-after biotech firms in recent months, with its pipeline of next-generation obesity and metabolic therapies attracting significant investor attention. As demand for weight-loss medications continues to surge worldwide—spurred by the success of drugs like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound—major pharmaceutical companies are racing to expand their portfolios through acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

While Reuters has not independently verified Bloomberg’s report, industry analysts note that Pfizer’s renewed offer could reshape the competitive landscape of obesity treatments. A successful acquisition of Metsera would not only bolster Pfizer’s late-stage drug pipeline but also enhance its position against Novo Nordisk in one of the fastest-growing segments of the pharmaceutical industry.