Vivani Medical Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing ultra long-acting drug implants, has signed a new agreement with Novo Nordisk to enable the evaluation of NPM-139, Vivani's investigational semaglutide implant designed for chronic weight management.

The implant is being developed using Vivani's proprietary NanoPortal platform technology, which is designed to deliver sustained drug release over extended periods. The agreement reflects Novo Nordisk's interest in assessing the potential of the innovative implant technology while containing no exclusivity provisions related to either NPM-139 or the NanoPortal platform.

According to Adam Mendelsohn, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Vivani Medical, the collaboration highlights growing confidence in the commercial potential of long-acting GLP-1 therapies. He noted that the company's implant technology could offer patients a convenient once- or twice-yearly treatment option while retaining the flexibility to discontinue therapy if required.

Vivani believes the NanoPortal platform has the potential to address the increasing demand for more convenient obesity treatment options as the global market for GLP-1-based therapies continues to expand.

Separately, the company announced plans to initiate a Phase 1 randomised, first-in-human clinical trial of NPM-139 in mid-2026. The study will compare the implant with Wegovy (semaglutide) injections as an active comparator and will evaluate the safety, pharmacokinetics and tolerability of the implant.

Successful completion of the Phase 1 study is expected to support the launch of a Phase 2 dose-ranging trial, marking the next step in the clinical development of Vivani's long-acting semaglutide implant for chronic weight management.