Novo Nordisk Spends Twice as Much on Wegovy and Ozempic Advertising in the US as Eli Lilly

Novo Nordisk invested nearly $500 million in advertising for the drugs Wegovy and Ozempic in the US during the first nine months of 2025, according to data from the ad-tracking firm MediaRadar. This amount is more than double the expenditures of Eli Lilly for Zepbound and Mounjaro, as reported exclusively by Reuters.

The increase in advertising activity follows the easing of supply constraints in 2025, which allowed pharmaceutical companies to intensify their marketing after the drug shortages of 2024.

According to analysts, Novo Nordisk is attempting to regain its position after direct clinical comparisons showed that Eli Lilly’s Zepbound resulted in approximately 47% greater weight loss compared to Wegovy.

The United States remains among the few countries that permit direct-to-consumer advertising of medicinal products. However, this practice is under increasing scrutiny as the Donald Trump administration pushes for the introduction of new rules regarding stricter transparency and disclosure requirements.