Novo Nordisk signed a collaboration with Vivtex to develop oral formulations of peptide and protein therapeutics for obesity, diabetes and related metabolic diseases. The agreement can total up to $2.1 billion in up-front, research and milestone payments plus tiered royalties, and gives Novo access to Vivtex’s gut‑delivery screening and formulation platform. Vivtex, an MIT spinout co‑founded by Robert Langer, will work with Novo on candidate selection and formulation optimization; the deal follows regulatory momentum for oral GLP‑1 products and Novo’s recent U.S. pill approval. Companies cited the difficulty of achieving reliable GI absorption for biologics and positioned the pact as a scale‑up of oral delivery capabilities that could broaden patient access. For developers, the transaction underscores continued pharma interest in delivery tech that converts injectable biologics into pills. The structure—large potential milestone upside tied to clinical and commercial performance—reflects prevailing biopharma risk‑sharing norms for platform licenses.