Key takeaways
- Novo Nordisk and Novonesis expect clinical trial results on combining synbiotics with GLP-1 drugs in the second half of 2027.
- The study will measure biological changes in blood glucose, cholesterol, and the gut microbiome.
- This partnership highlights a growing market trend of developing specialized companion supplements to manage GLP-1 side effects.
What happened
Danish biosolutions company Novonesis announced that it expects clinical research results in the second half of 2027 regarding whether specialized microbiome supplements can provide additional health benefits when taken alongside GLP-1 weight-loss medications. The study is part of an ongoing research partnership with Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk.
According to statements provided to Reuters by Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget and a Novo Nordisk spokesperson, the collaboration has shifted focus specifically to testing how synbiotic food supplements—which combine prebiotics and probiotics—can deliver metabolic benefits when paired directly with GLP-1-based medicines.
Why it matters
For US consumers purchasing GLP-1 therapies through online telehealth providers, this development signals a shift toward integrated, multi-product metabolic regimens. While GLP-1 receptor agonists like semaglutide (Wegovy, Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro) are highly effective for weight loss, they frequently trigger gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, constipation, and diarrhea.
If clinical trials prove that combining synbiotics with GLP-1 therapies improves metabolic outcomes, future weight-loss programs may routinely bundle prescription injections with specialized, clinically backed microbiome supplements. This could help patients manage digestion, stabilize the gut microbiome, and potentially sustain metabolic improvements at lower prescription doses.
What the data says
The partnership, which originally began in 2023, is designed to study the physical effects of combining Novonesis’s probiotic and enzyme technologies with Novo Nordisk’s metabolic expertise. According to the companies, the clinical evaluation will measure several key biological and metabolic markers:
- Changes in blood glucose levels
- Fluctuations in blood cholesterol
- Direct alterations in the gut microbiome composition
- Specific metabolic biomarkers related to digestion and weight management
The research aims to determine if a structured regimen of "synbiotics, probiotics, and prebiotics"—as described by Novonesis CEO Ester Baiget—can mathematically improve patient outcomes compared to taking GLP-1 medications alone. Definitive data from these clinical trials is projected to be released in the second half of 2027.
How it compares
Currently, US buyers looking to manage GLP-1 side effects or boost their weight-loss results must navigate a highly fragmented market. Telehealth providers listed on our comprehensive provider comparison directory typically prescribe the medication alone, leaving patients to research and purchase over-the-counter gut-health supplements independently.
Standard store-bought probiotics lack clinical backing for GLP-1 users and can add $20 to $60 per month to an already expensive medication regimen. If Novo Nordisk and Novonesis successfully validate a proprietary synbiotic companion supplement, it would compete directly with standard consumer probiotics and lifestyle offerings. This mirrors efforts by other massive consumer conglomerates, such as Nestlé, which are actively developing specialized companion foods, and dairy manufacturers investing heavily in high-protein whey products specifically formulated for the changing dietary profiles of GLP-1 patients.
For cash-paying patients using affordable telehealth GLP-1 options, a clinically validated companion synbiotic could provide a structured alternative to unofficial dosage modifications, such as clinical microdosing, which some patients use to self-manage severe side effects.
How this fits the bigger picture
The rise of GLP-1 medications has sent shockwaves through the consumer market, forcing adjacent industries to adapt to shrinking appetites and changing nutritional needs. In our previous coverage of how Conagra and Big Food are targeting the 'not-so-hungry', we highlighted how food manufacturers are reformulating products to cater to GLP-1 users. This new partnership between Novo Nordisk and Novonesis represents the pharmaceutical equivalent of that trend: optimizing the biological environment of the gut to work in harmony with weight-loss molecules.
Furthermore, managing the gastrointestinal tolerability of GLP-1s is a critical hurdle for patient retention. As we explored in our report on how 15% of GLP-1 users turn to microdosing to bypass standard doses, many patients actively decrease their prescribed dosages independently to avoid severe nausea and digestive issues. Developing a scientifically validated synbiotic companion product could provide clinicians and telehealth platforms with a standardized, safe tool to help patients tolerate full therapeutic doses comfortably, reducing the need for unauthorized dose adjustments.
What happens next
The joint clinical trials will continue over the next year and a half. The primary milestone to watch is the release of the trial results, scheduled for the second half of 2027.
Between now and then, US consumers can expect other wellness, nutrition, and telehealth companies to launch pre-emptive "GLP-1 companion" prebiotic and probiotic blends, though these will lack the specific clinical trial data that the Novo Nordisk and Novonesis collaboration aims to secure by 2027.
CompareRx provides factual information and comparison tools for consumer research. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.