Novo Nordisk agreed to a collaboration with Vivtex to develop oral peptide and protein formulations, in a deal that could reach up to $2.1 billion in upfront, R&D and milestone payments plus tiered royalties. The partnership gives Novo access to Vivtex’s GI screening and formulation platform aimed at enabling reliable oral delivery of biologics for obesity, diabetes and related metabolic indications. Vivtex, spun out of MIT with founders including Robert Langer, uses AI and gut‑on‑a‑chip screening to optimize oral formulations and has existing partnerships with multiple pharma firms. Novo will leverage its metabolic‑disease portfolio and commercial experience to accelerate candidates that could broaden patient access to oral alternatives to injectables. The agreement follows Novo’s regulatory progress with oral GLP‑1 formats and signals continued industry emphasis on formulation science and delivery tech as strategic levers to extend biologic franchises.