Novo Nordisk announced a research-and-license agreement with Vivtex to develop orally delivered peptide and protein therapeutics targeting obesity, diabetes and related metabolic conditions. Vivtex will license select GI-screening and formulation technologies; Novo will take global development, regulatory and commercialization responsibilities. The multi-stage deal includes upfront payments, research funding and up to $2.1 billion in milestones plus tiered royalties. Vivtex, an MIT spinout founded by researchers including Robert Langer and Giovanni Traverso, brings a gut-on-a-chip screening platform that couples gastrointestinal assays with simulation and AI. Novo emphasised the partnership builds on its prior work converting injectable biologics into oral formats and signals an intensified industry push to make high‑value biologics pill‑form. The collaboration was presented by both companies in press briefings and industry coverage at AGBT and other recent conferences. Investors and competitors will watch formulation milestones and early translational data to assess whether Vivtex’s platform overcomes long‑standing GI absorption barriers for large molecules.