Pfizer Accuses Novo Nordisk of ’Reckless’ $8.5B Bid to Hijack Metsera Obesity Deal
Pfizer has publicly condemned Novo Nordisk's unsolicited $8.5 billion offer for obesity biotech Metsera, calling the MOVE 'reckless.' The Danish pharmaceutical giant's bid—$56.50 per share upfront, potentially rising to $77.75 per share—aims to disrupt Pfizer's existing agreement with the startup. Novo Nordisk shares dipped 2% pre-market as the company framed the acquisition as strategic for its weight-loss drug portfolio, including Wegovy.
The proposal, now under review by Metsera's board, marks Novo CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar's latest aggressive play to reclaim dominance in obesity therapeutics. Since taking the helm, Doustdar has slashed jobs and secured a $5 billion deal for liver disease specialist Akero Therapeutics. Pfizer, which announced its own Metsera partnership in September, saw its stock hold steady amid the controversy.
