Eli Lilly Launches Weight-Loss Pill in Israel, Ahead of Novo Nordisk

Eli Lilly Israel announced it will soon market its weight-loss pill, Pounaduo, in Israel, making it the fourth country globally to offer the medication. This move preempts competitor Novo Nordisk, whose similar GLP-1 class drug was approved in the U.S. earlier but is slated for Israeli market release later this year. Lilly's strategic timing aims to include the drug in the upcoming national health basket.

Pounaduo will be available in Israeli pharmacies starting September 15, requiring a doctor's prescription. Prices will range from approximately 691 shekels for the lowest dosage to 1,146 shekels for the highest. Health maintenance organizations may subsidize part of the cost, similar to existing GLP-1 injection treatments. The pill is intended for individuals with obesity or overweight status accompanied by at least one weight-related medical condition.

Clinical trials indicate Pounaduo achieved a 12.4% weight reduction in its highest dosage, which is less than the results seen with Novo Nordisk's pill (14%-16.6%) and some weight-loss injections. However, Lilly's drug also demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of heart-related mortality among diabetic patients. Pounaduo is a small molecule taken daily, without strict timing requirements relative to meals or other medications, and does not require refrigeration, unlike some competing treatments.

In the U.S. market, Novo Nordisk's pill currently has a larger prescription base (181,000 users) compared to Lilly's (44,000). However, Lilly leads in the weight-loss injection market due to superior clinical trial results in that category. In the second quarter of 2026, Novo's Wegovy generated $497 million in revenue, while Lilly's Pounaduo, launched later, earned $98 million, with both falling short of investor expectations as the overall weight-loss injection market continues to grow.

The article also briefly mentions Epitomi, another company marketing a weight-loss pill that works differently by swelling in the stomach to induce satiety. This pill is aimed at individuals with mild to moderate overweight who prefer a less intensive medical intervention.