Wegoby, a weight loss drug that helps people slim down, is bulking up for his first Super Bowl appearance.
The drug’s maker, Novo Nordisk, purchased enough advertising time from NBC to run a 90-second commercial during the third quarter of the game scheduled to air on Sunday, February 8th. Additionally, the company has used an extensive team of celebrities, including Kenan Thompson, DJ Khaled, Daniel Brooks, Ana Gasteyer, John C. Reilly, and Danny Trejo, to appeal to a diverse audience that is likely to be among the dozens of viewers. Millions of people watch the big game.
“We chose to attend the big game because it was a unique opportunity to speak to so many people.
Once — for those who want to clear up the confusion and start an honest conversation about weight
To take a step towards better health. ” said Ed Sinka, Novo Nordisk’s senior vice president of marketing and patient solutions.
Novo Nordisk is so focused on its Super Bowl appearance because it’s promoting once-daily Wigovy tablets, rather than the more commonly known injectables. Pharmaceutical companies are offering the pills as the weight loss drug market takes off. In fact, two telemedicine providers, Ro and Hims & Hers, will be at the Super Bowl this weekend to discuss the benefits of using their services to obtain such medications.
But the introduction of Novo’s tablets may be a bigger announcement. Experts believe that making the drug available as an oral medication could further increase consumer interest, including those who are reluctant to inject themselves. As prices for Wegovy and similar drugs continue to fall, the launch of the pill is likely to increase new purchases. Novo Nordisk announced earlier this week that it expects sales and operating profit to decline in 2026. Making matters worse, Hims & Hers announced it would launch a copycat version at a significantly lower price, but Novo’s CEO said the discounted drug would not be absorbed as easily.
One reason this ad is so long is because most commercials to date are only 30 or 60 seconds long, and drug commercials are required to disclose potential side effects. But the other thing is to feature a diverse cast for the spot. The ad opens with Kenan Thompson and is quickly followed by scenes of other cast members, with many of the cast sharing different scenes. “Big news for America!” Thompson shouts from atop the water tower. “Wegovy came in pill form.”
