ALAMEDA, Calif., July 7, 2026
Vivani Medical, Inc. has entered into a new strategic agreement with Novo Nordisk to evaluate NPM-139, the company’s miniature, ultra long-acting semaglutide implant being developed for chronic weight management. Under the non-exclusive agreement, Novo Nordisk will conduct an internal evaluation of semaglutide implants developed using Vivani’s proprietary NanoPortal™ platform technology, reinforcing growing industry interest in next-generation GLP-1 drug delivery systems designed to improve patient convenience and long-term treatment adherence. The collaboration represents an important milestone for Vivani as it advances a portfolio of implantable therapies capable of providing once- or twice-yearly administration of semaglutide, potentially addressing one of the biggest challenges associated with current daily and weekly obesity medications. The agreement contains no exclusivity provisions, allowing Vivani to continue expanding development opportunities for both NPM-139 and its proprietary implant technology while pursuing additional strategic collaborations within the rapidly growing metabolic disease market.
NanoPortal™ Platform Advances Long-Acting GLP-1 Therapy
At the center of the collaboration is NPM-139, an investigational semaglutide implant developed using Vivani’s NanoPortal™ platform, a proprietary technology engineered to deliver medicines steadily over extended periods through miniature implantable devices. Unlike conventional injectable or oral GLP-1 therapies that require frequent dosing, the NanoPortal platform is designed to provide continuous drug delivery for up to six or twelve months, improving medication adherence while maintaining consistent therapeutic drug levels.
According to Dr. Adam Mendelsohn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivani Medical, the agreement reflects Novo Nordisk’s interest in evaluating the company’s innovative implant technology and supports Vivani’s vision of offering patients a convenient long-acting treatment alternative that can also be discontinued if clinically necessary. The company believes the platform could significantly improve treatment persistence and patient satisfaction across obesity and other metabolic disorders.
Phase 1 Trial Planned as Obesity Pipeline Expands
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In parallel with the Novo Nordisk collaboration, Vivani Medical plans to initiate a Phase 1 randomized first-in-human clinical study of NPM-139 during mid-2026, comparing the investigational implant with Wegovy® (semaglutide) injections. The study will evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, and tolerability, generating data to support progression into a Phase 2 dose-ranging trial, subject to positive Phase 1 outcomes. Vivani is developing a broad portfolio of GLP-1 implant therapies targeting obesity and type 2 diabetes, addressing the widespread problem of medication non-adherence that affects nearly 50% of patients receiving long-term treatments.
As demand continues to grow for effective obesity therapies worldwide, long-acting implant technologies are attracting increasing interest because of their potential to reduce dosing frequency while improving long-term clinical outcomes. The collaboration with Novo Nordisk, one of the global leaders in metabolic disease therapeutics, further validates the commercial and scientific potential of Vivani’s implant platform. By combining innovative sustained-release drug delivery technology with one of the most successful GLP-1 molecules available today, Vivani Medical aims to advance a new generation of obesity treatments capable of delivering durable efficacy, enhanced patient convenience, and improved adherence while supporting the future evolution of chronic weight management therapies.
Source: Vivani Medical, Novo Nordisk press release
