Novo Nordisk, a big name in pharmaceuticals, has teamed up with a smaller company called Vivtex. This partnership aims to create new drugs for obesity and other metabolic diseases that can be taken by mouth instead of injections. The exact amount of money changing hands isn’t public, but Vivtex could earn up to $2.1 billion plus a share of future sales if the drugs they develop together become a success. Normally, drugs like these are given through injections or drips because they’re too big and delicate to survive the stomach’s harsh environment. But, thanks to new technologies, companies are making progress in turning these drugs into pills. Novo Nordisk has already done this with two of their drugs: Rybelsus for diabetes and an oral version of Wegovy for obesity. This new deal with Vivtex is part of Novo Nordisk’s plan to find new treatments by working with both their own scientists and outside partners. Vivtex started as a company that helped develop tests for diseases, but now they’re focusing on helping other companies create drugs that can be taken by mouth. They use a special method to quickly test many different versions of a drug to find the one that can best survive the digestive system. The head of Vivtex, Thomas von Erlach, said that most patients would prefer to take a pill over an injection. This deal has been in the works for years and involves some well-known experts in the field. One of them, Bob Langer, said that making these drugs easier to take could greatly improve patient care.