Pfizer Novo Nordisk Bidding War Spurs $9B Metsera Acquisition Battle

Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer and Novo Nordisk are engaged in a high-stakes bidding war over Metsera, a U.S.-based biotech firm specializing in obesity treatments. Novo Nordisk launched an unsolicited $9 billion bid, surpassing Pfizer's prior $7.3 billion agreement, igniting one of the most dramatic takeover battles in the pharmaceutical sector this year. The competition centers on the rapidly growing weight-loss drug market, fueled by popular GLP-1 agonists like Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy, and Eli Lilly's Mounjaro, with the market expected to exceed $100 billion by the decade's end. Pfizer is reportedly leveraging its close ties with President Trump and the U.S. administration to counter Novo's move, highlighting the political dimension of this corporate clash. Both companies face significant pressure: Novo to maintain its market dominance amid increased competition, and Pfizer to reestablish its foothold after a failed experimental weight-loss drug earlier this year. The situation remains fluid, with Pfizer having a limited window to respond to Novo's offer amid legal, antitrust, and financial considerations.