Smartpatient, Novo Nordisk expand patient support to oral GLP-1 in Germany

Smartpatient and Novo Nordisk are broadening their Germany patient support partnership to include the first oral GLP-1 treatment for weight management. The move extends a digital obesity care program launched in 2025 and widened to Type 2 diabetes earlier in 2026.

Why it matters: - The expansion gives patients in Germany a single digital support experience across injectable and oral treatment formats. - The oral option may make it easier to extend continuity of care as obesity treatment choices change. - The partnership also shows how pharma support programs can scale across conditions without rebuilding the patient journey from scratch.

What happened: - Smartpatient and Novo Nordisk expanded their patient support partnership in Germany to include the first GLP-1 receptor agonist available in oral form. - The oral treatment is authorized by the European Commission for weight management in adults with obesity, or adults who are overweight and have at least one weight-related comorbidity, alongside a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity. - The partnership began in 2025 with a joint digital obesity care program in Germany. - The program was extended to Type 2 diabetes earlier in 2026. - The latest expansion now covers both injectable and oral treatment formats within the established obesity care program.

The details: - Smartpatient said the expanded model is designed to adapt as treatment options and patient needs evolve. - For people living with obesity, the oral format is meant to extend an established support experience. - For pharma teams, the partnership is intended to show how a digital support model can grow across conditions and formats while keeping patients at the center. - Marcelo Duhalde, chief growth officer at Smartpatient, said the expansion shows how a patient support partnership can grow with changing treatment needs. - Duhalde said Smartpatient and Novo Nordisk are extending an established obesity care program across treatment formats while keeping continuity at the center of the patient experience. - Claudia Laven, head of obesity at Novo Nordisk Germany, said new innovation called for new support solutions. - Laven said the partnership builds on an established digital obesity care program as treatment options evolve. - Laven said a consistent support experience across both treatment formats is important for supporting patients in Germany.

Between the lines: - The expansion suggests both companies see patient support as a long-term layer around treatment, not a one-time launch asset. - The move also signals that digital adherence and support tools are becoming more central as obesity care spans more delivery formats.

What's next: - Smartpatient and Novo Nordisk are likely to keep building the partnership as treatment options and patient support needs change. - The companies frame the current expansion as part of a longer-term model rather than a standalone program update.

The bottom line: - The partnership now covers oral and injectable obesity treatments in Germany, giving Novo Nordisk a broader digital support platform as its treatment mix evolves.