Technologies
Best Gaming Chair for 2023
We tried gaming chairs from DXRacer, Secretlab and others to help you find the size and style that’s right for you.
Investing in a high-quality PC gaming chair with an ergonomic design is one of the best ways to improve your gaming experience. Whether you’re working or unwinding, gaming chairs offer some serious comfort for long hours locked in front of a screen. It gives you a throne for gaming and makes for a great study seat or office chair, and there are often options that range from subtle to bold in terms of color choices, so you can customize your space the way you want.
But if you’re searching for a gaming chair online, you’ll find that it’s not easy to tell whether that chair is comfortable and ergonomic. Complicating the search is that many PC gaming chairs look pretty much the same and offer a dizzying array of features: padded armrest, retractable footrest, bucket seat, neck pillow, adjustable lumbar support and the list goes on. And a PC gaming chair is something you need firsthand experience to judge.
Our picks for the best gamer chair should eliminate some of the guesswork from your search.The chairs we’ve rounded up here (and most of the ones we researched) are the best gaming chairs around right now. Our picks share a lot of similarities, like caster wheels and seat padding for extra comfort and ergonomic gaming. Other similarities include adjustable spider bases and 3D or 4D armrests that move up and down, forward and backward and rotate inward and out. All of them would be suitable as an office chair, too.
Beyond that, in your search for the best gaming chair, having a good backrest and lumbar support are essential. You should look for a video game chair that’s sturdy and suits your size. Here are our picks for the best gaming chair. We’ll update this list periodically.
This is a gaming chair for people who don’t want to look like they own a gaming chair. Yes, it fits the needs of gamers, with full back support, 360-degree armrests, a head rest and plenty of height and angle adjustments. But, unlike most gaming chairs, it can pass as a fancy high-end ergonomic office chair.
That means it has a black mesh back, instead of the puffy faux leather couch look you see in so many gaming chairs. The mesh is great for keeping air flowing through it. In a nod to its gaming origins, the head rest cushion and the lumbar support pop out in bold colors — red in this case, but black is also an option, or black with a white mesh back.
The M7 hits two sweet spots for me: It’s one of the most adjustable, comfortable work chairs I’ve used, and it’s also by far the least ugly gaming chair I’ve seen in person. The downside is that it’s almost $800, although I’d consider this almost on par with the famed Herman Miller Aeron, which can cost 50% more. — Dan Ackerman
Gaming chairs are nice and all, but what if you want something that doesn’t make you feel like you’re sitting in a cocoon? The AirCentric 2 Multi-Tilt is an office chair-like design — no RGB lighting or weird, cuplike seats — that is also great for gaming in.
The chair is currently available in three main colors — black, dark gray and royal blue — and with a choice of light gray or black hardware. The “air” part of the name refers to the breathable backrest, which has an attractive riblike pattern on the back.
As a moderately tall human, I’ve found some designs don’t fit my long legs or support my butt well enough. The baseline AirCentric 2 can support people between 5-feet 4-inches and 6-feet 1-inch and up to 240 pounds. The seat’s height adjustment enables me to stretch my legs comfortably and I don’t get a numb posterior sitting in it for 8 hours. I found that with my usual chair, the Autonomous ErgoChair Pro, I get neck pain from using it at my desk — and I think this is because I can’t get it to raise high enough. This is not a problem I’ve had in using the AirCentric 2 over the course of several weeks.
Of all the numerous controls on the AirCentric 2, I believe the seat depth bar is the most important as it enables you to forgo the need for a separate lumbar control. It lets you move the seat to and fro so that the chair’s back is able to properly support yours — I found it quick and easy to dial it in correctly.
The version of the chair I received included both the optional headrest and the 360-degree swivel arms. Of these, only the headrest could be considered essential as it is highly adjustable and stays put when you lean your head against it. As for the other feature, I personally prefer a chair without arms, so the ability to spin the armrests around was lost on me. Buying the chair without the specialized arms will save you an additional $200.
I have been a gamer for many years, but I eschew the “technicolor gamer aesthetic. If, like me, you want something easy to set up, very comfortable to sit in and doesn’t look like dog vomit, the AirCentric is worth the extra expense. Prices start at $831 (with armrests), while the headrest is around $200 extra. — Ty Pendlebury
Joseph Kaminski
The Anda Seat Fnatic Edition is a big-league gaming chair for gamers small and large. The black-and-orange chair is covered in scratch- and stain-proof PVC leather over memory foam and is supported by an extra-large aluminum five-wheel base. The generously sized caster wheels are covered in polyurethane (PU) to prevent damaging floors.
From its design to the brand embroidering on the chair and the included pillows, the quality is excellent. It can support people up to 440 pounds and 6 feet, 8 inches tall. The seat itself is extremely comfortable and wide. I never felt squeezed into the seat, and my more slender girlfriend is able to sit comfortably with her legs crossed underneath her up on the chair. I never sit in that position, but it’s nice to have that information for someone who might.
It has a backrest just under 2 feet wide that cradles you as you recline from 90 to 160 degrees. Also included are sizable lumbar and headrest pillows. Adding to the comfort are the soft PU-covered 4D armrests that can be quickly raised, lowered, slid forward and back, twisted inward and outward, and moved in and out.
The chair comes with all the tools needed to assemble and is simple to put together. It weighs just over 33 pounds fully assembled.
As a big guy, finding a comfortable computer chair that’s sturdy enough to handle the extra pounds. Secretlab’s Titan XL 2020 is the largest chair in the Titan line and is recommended for people 5-foot-11 to 6-foot-10 (1.8 to 2m) with a maximum weight capacity of 390 pounds (176kg). The only thing bigger about the Titan XL is its price, starting at $524.
As large as the Titan XL chair is, it has the same setup as any other computer chair. The difference is that every part is bigger and heavier so it required a lot more space and time to put the Titan XL together. One issue I had with the chair after setting it up was the seemingly not working gas lift cylinder, which means my gaming seat is only at one height. This could have been due to the box being in storage for some time before assembly.
I can definitely say that once put together, the Titan XL is the biggest chair I’ve ever had. It’s almost like being a kid sitting in an adult chair. What was particularly comfortable for me was the armrests that were pretty wide to begin with and can be adjusted to make it narrower if needed. The seat also provided me with plenty of cushion for when I’m sitting down for hours. I also love the smoothness when leaning back.
As comfortable as the chair is, there are some issues. The backrest has the same soft leather as the seat, but it’s still stiff. I’ve used the chair for three weeks now, and the stiffness is still there. I mentioned earlier that all the parts of the Titan XL are sturdy, especially the wheelbase as it supports a lot more weight. It’s also made out of metal so I’ve had multiple occasions where I banged my feet against the wheelbase. Lastly, there is a tilt mechanism to put the chair in a reclining position, but it’s quite jarring to use and I’ve come to avoid it.
The Titan XL 2020 is good for those who need a big sturdy chair and are willing to pay for it. Secretlab provides a three-year warranty with an option to purchase an extension of two years, and it has a return policy of 49 days. — Oscar Gonzalez
Joseph Kaminski
A fully loaded DXRacer Master Modular gaming chair looks like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie… or a dentist’s office. Appearances aside, this $519 chair is extremely comfortable and useful, especially if you use multiple devices while you game and work.
The chair — available in black, maroon and brown — is covered in microfiber leather and has an aluminum base that supports people up to 275 pounds (124.7kg). It’s ideal for someone 6 feet tall but can accommodate up to heights up to 6-foot-6 (1.9m). The chair itself comes in at just under 70 pounds.
The Master Series has internal lumbar support, which is a plus for me since it means there’s no need to fidget with a pillow. The same goes for the rail-mounted headrest that keeps the cushion in place. Padded 4D locking armrests are not only comfortable but stay in place if you use them to help you get out of the chair. The stock seat cushion is comfortable and tapers slightly upward on the ends, making it easier for wider bottoms. DXRacer also offers a mesh seat cushion for those looking to stay cool with more ventilation. And that’s just the start of the customizations.
This chair separates itself from the rest with the addition of a cup holder (no more desk spills) and two arms that support a few different devices. One arm can hold a laptop and the other a tablet or mobile phone. The icing on the cake is its integrated leg rest that slides underneath the base. All modular add-ons are sold separately.
The chair ships with all the tools needed to assemble it. Due to its unique design, it is heavier than a traditional gaming chair and may require some help while building it. That said, once built, the chair is so satisfying to sit in and great for a situation like mine, where I have my personal computer occupying my desk and the Master Series arm for my work laptop.
For anyone wanting to revert the chair back, the accessories are easy to remove. — Joseph Kaminski
Razer
There are a few good reasons to pick the $499 (£299, AU800) Razer Iskur over others on this list. For instance, if you love the Razer brand, it’s a no-brainer. From its glowing green stitching to its three-headed snake logo to the snake-belly pattern on the back support, this is a chair for Gamers, by Gamers.
The chair is covered in a multilayered synthetic leather that Razer says will withstand the peeling that’s typical of standard polyurethane leather. It feels close to leather, which is nice, but it also creaks and squeaks like it, too. Regardless, if it holds up better than your typical PU chair, it’s worth it.
The Iskur is designed for gamers weighing up to 299 pounds (136 kg) with a height of 5 feet, 6 inches to 6 feet, 2 inches (170 cm to 190 cm). I’m a little over 200 pounds (90.7 kg) and 6 feet, 2 inches tall, and it feels just about perfect. The seat cushion is firm and supportive, which is what you want when you’re gaming or working at a desk. If you’re looking for a puffy recliner on wheels, this ain’t it. Likewise, the angled sides of the seat cushion hug your hips, giving you a little extra support out to the sides. I like it, but if you prefer a flat, open seat design or have wide hips, you might not like the feel.
The armrests are wide and lightly cushioned. The height can be adjusted with paddles under the outside edge, while buttons on the inside let you slide the rests left and right. Press the buttons on the front inside edge of the rests themselves and you can slide them forward and backward as well as rotate them in and out. Basically, you can dial in the exact position you want. The chair itself has a height adjustment. The back reclines and the whole chair tilts so you can lean back and dream of all the ways you’ll defeat your enemies.
However, the biggest feature that sets this chair apart from the pack is its lumbar support. Unlike competing models at this price, the Iskur doesn’t rely on an attachable pillow that needs constant adjustment. Instead, you lift a paddle under the chair and a sculpted support lifts forward like a snake with a belly full of mouse.
The chair is covered by a three-year warranty and you can get tech support if you need it. Plus, if you buy directly from Razer, you get 14 days to return it risk-free. — Josh Goldman
Herman Miller
Spending as much on an office chair as you might on a midrange gaming laptop might seem ridiculous, but when many of us are spending more and more time at home, it’s not unreasonable for home-office-bound gamers to consider making a serious investment in their comfort, regardless of what’s happening onscreen. Whether you’re scanning spreadsheets or laser-focused on your next target, the $1,795 (£1,392) Embody Gaming Chair will give you excellent back and shoulder support.
Herman Miller’s Embody design has been for sale as a high-end desk chair since 2011. The only specifically “gamer-y” thing about this version, aside from the marketing done in partnership with Logitech, is the color scheme, which adds ocean blue accents to the back panel and the height adjustment switches for the seat and the armrests. The price tag is the same for the gamer version as it is for the entry-level standard office model. If you’re not crazy about the blue, you can find the Embody in other colors for the same price or even a bit higher, depending on your preference. Every version of the chair includes Herman Miller’s 12-year warranty, giving you exceptional protection for such a major investment.
The chair’s back support is where it shines. A tension adjustment knob on the right side lets you dial in the support to your back and shoulders across a wide range of motion. Combined with the three-position tilt adjustment, you can tailor the chair to your preferred sitting position to a very fine degree. Its porous, layered upholstery, which Herman Miller calls “pixelated support,” helps ensure the chair breathes well, and I never felt too warm during the three weeks I spent using it at work and while gaming. A lifetime seated at a computer has done some interesting things to my back and shoulders; I won’t say the chair is a miracle cure, but I will attest to the fact that it let me adjust my sitting position throughout the day. At every point, I felt as if it bolstered my back exactly where I wanted it to. I can’t say the same about any other desk chair I’ve used in the past. — Rich Brown
The X-Chair X3’s design might not look like a gaming chair, but at $950 (£635) it doesn’t skip the features you’d expect.
One of the special features is what X-Chair calls the Dynamic Variable Lumbar, which moves as you do to give you the same amount of support all the time. The headrest can be raised and lowered as well as tilted for better head and neck support. It also has highly adjustable arm rests with 4 degrees of movement.
What I especially like are the tabs to slide the foam seat base forward and back. And the mesh backrest allows better airflow than you get in a typical gaming chair. If my back is to the window, I can still feel a breeze.
The model I tested came with both standard wheels and clear X-wheel Active X premium wheels — the latter are like inline-skate wheels that glide across the floor quietly without damaging it or marking it up. There’s an option to add locking wheels to the chair, too.
The X3 is covered in a multilayered nylon that claims to be both responsive and supportive in addition to water-, spill- and stain-resistant. The standard chair can support people up to 350 pounds and up to 6 feet, 3 inches tall, but X-Chair also offers a larger cylinder for taller people. — Joseph Kaminski
The Maingear Forma is functional, flexible and sturdy — basically a solid middle-of-the-road choice if you’re looking for a good gaming chair with a comfortable foam cushion pillow.
You can swivel 360 degrees and lean back nearly 180 degrees in it and not tip over, providing a safe gaming experience for the overly enthusiastic.
With a weight limit of 330 pounds, this budget gaming chair is also the gaming chair most suited for heavier gamers.
The chair includes a nice memory foam head pillow (to support the neck) and lumbar pillow backrest. In terms of overall comfort, I’d rate it slightly behind the high-end Secretlab chair. The Forma is covered in faux leather over a steel frame with an aluminum alloy base, so it would work well as an ergonomic office chair, too. The casters are ultraquiet, and this quality gaming chair has an adjustable seat height, from 14.2 to 18.1 inches. — Joseph Kaminski
We asked our sample sitters which they thought was the best gaming chair overall, and they almost unanimously agreed that the best gaming chair was the Secretlab Titan 2020 Series. This ergonomic gaming chair has a large backrest with a wide lumbar pillow cushion, and it supports people who are up to 6 feet, 7 inches and weigh 290 pounds. It also has style. This gaming recliner isn’t just a place to sit, it lets you lie back to recline almost fully, and the high-density foam head pillow is generously sized for a top-notch gaming experience. The internal lumbar cushion is adjustable, as are the armrests. In fact, each adjustable armrest can swivel backward and forward, rotate in and out, up and down and slide wider and narrower for extra comfort.
Secretlab has special edition models available, ranging from Batman to Game of Thrones themes — maybe not what you would want for an office chair, but who’s judging? — Joseph Kaminski
The Secretlab Omega is a gamer’s all-day dream chair, with two memory foam pillows — one for lumbar support, the other for the headrest. Matched with a full-length backrest and a seat cushion that rises on its sides, this comfortable gaming chair keeps gamers sitting snugly in place.
The model I tested was covered in polyurethane-coated leather, but the chair also comes in the company’s SoftWeave fabric and a napa leather chair option. If you’re trying to choose between the Omega and Titan, I’d say the Omega has a slight edge in terms of the seat cushion comfort level. That said, this added comfort comes with a narrower seat base. The Omega was designed for gamers up to 5 feet, 11 inches tall and up to 240 pounds. However, I’m 6 feet tall and found the chair easy to sit in all day.
Like its Titan sibling, the Omega has all the bells and whistles including the Secretlab’s 4D armrests, solid base and tilt radius. Setup time was also about 15 minutes, and tools are also included.
The Omega also comes in a Cyberpunk 2077 edition as well as a few other pop-culture favorites. Check out some of the other Secretlab Omega special editions and collaborations. — Joseph Kaminski
There are chairs that are labeled ergonomic and then there’s the tCentric Hybrid from ErgoCentric. It’s not a one-size-fits-all chair or even one you buy strictly by size. Instead, the Canadian-based company helps you build a chair that’s a perfect fit for your body. The company even has an ergonomist on staff you can video-chat with.
To simplify the process, ErgoCentric created an online chair fitting tool. Just answer some simple questions, enter a handful of basic body measurements and upload optional front-facing and profile photos of yourself in a chair. Within 24 hours you’ll have a recommendation. A custom chair ships within five days and is ready to use out of the box — no assembly required. And if you change your mind once it arrives, you can return it for a full refund.
The tCentric Hybrid I tested was fitted with the company’s Synchro Glide system, which links the backrest movement with the seat so that when you lean back the seat tilts back as well. Combined with the chair’s independent back-angle adjustment, the whole chair feels like it’s moving with you, supporting you no matter how you sit.
The height of the backrest is adjustable up to 5 inches, too, so the lumbar support is in the correct spot. And there’s an optional air-filled lumbar support that you can inflate while you sit in the chair. In fact, everything can be adjusted without standing and the handles all have different shapes to cut down on those sudden accidental seat height drops.
The armrests have height, lateral and swivel adjustments. The seat depth is adjustable up to 2.5 inches and uses a unique airless cushion made from soft rubber. It works with the mesh to help give you the extra support that you don’t get with other mesh chair options and you don’t end up sitting on the chair frame under you.
However, if you’d rather have an upholstered foam seat with a mesh back, you can get that (it’s where the Hybrid in the name comes from). I tested the full mesh version, which kept me cool and the airless cushion gave me just enough support to keep me comfortable throughout my workday and into a night of gaming. Also, if you’re going to splurge on any of the extras this chair is available with, the headrest is a must-have. It adjusts at three different pivot points to support your head and neck in any position or you can move it entirely out of the way.
There are a lot of things to like about this chair but in the end, it’s all about the support it gives you. For myself, it means relief from intense neck and shoulder pain caused by spinal stenosis. Having a chair that keeps me properly supported and comfortable all day makes it worth the expense. Plus, the tCentric Hybrid is covered with a 12-year warranty and covers everything — from the casters to the headrest and all of the chair’s moving mechanisms. — Josh Goldman
How much does a gaming chair cost?
Gaming chairs range from $150 to more than $1,000 depending on features, design, size and materials. There are basic chairs with a standard seat cushion and a backrest, and then there are higher-end chairs with ergonomic features and seats that dissipate heat to keep the user cool. Some chairs also have built-in heating and massage.
Are gaming chairs good for sitting in all day?
Yes, manufacturers design these chairs for such use. However, when a chair is genuinely inexpensive, they have cut costs somewhere. This could result in an uncomfortable seat cushion, poor back, arm, neck and head support or just something that doesn’t last. Like a lot of products, you get what you pay for.
What is a 4D armrest?
While lower-end gaming chairs might have fixed armrests or height-adjustable armrests, a 4D armrest adds more ways to adjust allowing gamers to find that productive sweet spot. They can be adjusted vertically for taller or shorter people, moved in and out for a broad or narrow arm spread. They can also be rotated in and out and moved forward and backward.
How we test computers
The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computer-like devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device’s aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both those objective and subjective judgments.
The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we’re currently running on every compatible computer include: Primate Labs Geekbench 5, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra.
A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found in our How We Test Computers page.
More recommendations for gamers
- Best Cheap Gaming Mouse
- Fastest VPNs of 2022
- The Best Racing Wheels and Pedals for iRacing and Your Budget
- Best Graphics Cards for Gamers and Creatives
- Best Gaming Laptop for 2022
- Best Xbox Racing Games
- Best TVs for PS5 and Xbox Series X, Series S With 4K, 120fps Input and VRR
- Best Game Subscription Services: Here’s How to Choose
- Best Gaming Keyboard for 2022
- Best Gaming Routers for 2022
Technologies
OpenAI boss Sam Altman spells out how and why the AI industry wants to slow down: ‘We could lose control’
OpenAI’s chief has made comments detailing how AI safety frameworks and a slowdown could work, as the industry unites behind concerns.
OpenAI chief Sam Altman has made his most detailed comments yet on how artificial intelligence safety frameworks could work, after he joined Anthropic’s Dario Amodei and Elon Musk in calling for an industry slowdown over the weekend.
Safety concerns over the technology have hit fever pitch since an Anthropic researcher quit last week, warning that those building it believed that it could “kill us all by the end of the decade” and prompting other employees at the lab and rival OpenAI to warn of catastrophic risks.
AI bosses have since shown a rare display of unity, with both Altman and Musk on Saturday backing an essay from Amodei that urged AI companies to slow how quickly they improve their most advanced models.
AI stocks were down Monday as investors digested the comments. U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed the CEOs’ warning on Sunday, saying a slowdown was not needed and would jeopardize America’s lead in AI over China.
Sam Altman sets out 2 ways AI could go ‘very badly’
“We welcome a federal framework that sets consistent safety requirements for frontier AI,” Altman said in a post on X just after midnight on Monday, adding that “no amount of American competitive pressure should justify recklessness.”
Altman warned of two ways AI progress could go “very badly,” including losing “control of the future to AI” and too much power concentrating around a single person or company.
Meanwhile, lawmakers in Washington are scrambling to address calls for safeguards.
This all comes as Anthropic and OpenAI gear up for what’s expected to be historic initial public offerings. Altman ruled out going public in 2026 in an interview with Fortune published Saturday.
Amodei’s three-step proposal
Many AI safety fears revolve around models developing the ability to improve their own performance, a technique known as recursive self-improvement, or RSI.
“Since roughly this summer, AI has been advancing drastically faster, driven primarily by AI’s growing ability to build the next generation of AI,” said Amodei in his essay. “Left unchecked, it could outrun our ability to understand and control these systems, and so must be pursued very carefully, if at all.”
Amodei proposed a three-step plan aimed at tempering the pace of development without “sacrificing commercial advantage or the United States’ lead in AI.”
The plan involves each frontier AI company giving “employee-like access” to external evaluators — which he said Anthropic was committing to now. Amodei also called for frontier AI labs to establish common safety standards, limit the rate of unchecked AI progress and attempt to coordinate efforts globally.
On Saturday, Altman said in a brief X post he agreed with Amodei that AI companies should “pace the frontier.” He added that “committing to having independent evaluators with employee-like access is a great idea, and we will do the same.”
“Consistent rules to manage frontier risk so that we can maximize the benefits are a good idea (and we are excited by ideas like independent auditors),” Altman said in his Monday post. But, he added, “When we talk about ‘pacing,’ we do not mean ‘stopping.’ Progress has been rapid and will continue to be.”
“Pacing will be well worth this cost; no amount of American competitive pressure should justify recklessness, or let capabilities get ahead of alignment and monitoring,” he concluded.
“Where we will need the help of our government is for international coordination. But first we should do what we can ourselves.”
International cooperation
Coordinating AI safety measures and an industry slowdown with rival AI developers in China will likely pose big challenges.
The U.S. and China remain locked in a battle for AI supremacy, with tensions ratcheting up as Chinese models have become more advanced and their global adoption grows.
Amodei said Sunday that the “toughest dilemma” about his proposal is what happens if adversarial nations choose not to do the same.
“The more long-term thing would be working together to put a speed limit on the rate of AI progress,” Amodei told CBS News’ “Sunday Morning.”
“I think that’s going to be very difficult because the incentives to pull ahead and the military advantage that you get from that are so large. And honestly, I don’t know if it’s possible, but we should try.”
The Anthropic CEO’s essay has drawn criticism in China, with the state-owned Global Times writing on Monday that “Amodei’s proposals seek to portray China’s legitimate development in AI as a threat and further fuel confrontation between China and the US in the field.”
China’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday that the CEOs’ comments were “fearmongering.”
Technologies
Novo CEO tells CNBC why drugmaker is rebranding, needs to ‘rethink’ obesity strategy
The Danish drugmaker called the changes the beginning of a new chapter for the company, which faces stiff competition from Eli Lilly.
Novo Nordisk
The Danish drugmaker called the changes the beginning of a new chapter, as it has been grappling with stiff competition from chief rival Eli Lilly
In an exclusive interview with CNBC, Novo CEO Mike Doustdar said the rebrand and culture shift are “part of the same package” for the company to evolve its strategy as it tries to win back customers from Lilly.
“I think there’s no secret that over the last four or five years, the external environment and what has happened to Novo Nordisk has really made us reflect how we need to readjust and rethink about the next decade to come and what shifts are needed in our strategic direction,” he told CNBC.
Doustdar said the “work is cut out for us,” adding that Novo needs to improve several aspects – from research and development and manufacturing to sales and marketing – to be able to compete in the obesity drug market.
Shares of Novo have dropped about 15% this year despite the successful launch of the oral version of Wegovy, which surpassed 3 million prescriptions as of June. The company recently scrapped three trials on an experimental cardiovascular drug. That challenge came as it continues to lag in the obesity space with 38.8% market share compared to Lilly’s 60.9% in the second quarter, according to a Lilly earnings presentation citing IQVIA data.
In a release, Novo also announced a broader company rebrand focused around the phrase “Lasting Health Starts Now,” which promotes the idea that patients should make progress toward long-term well-being immediately rather than later. The company said the marketing is a bid to build relevance and trust with the public and other stakeholders, and bring “breakthrough science closer to people’s daily lives.”
When asked whether the rebrand and cultural overhaul were driven by Novo’s recent market share losses in obesity, Doustdar said the changes were less about competitive setbacks and more about adapting to a dramatically different operating environment.
He said the rapid growth of obesity treatments has transformed Novo’s patient base and shifted the market toward a more consumer-oriented model, where patients move on and off therapies more frequently than in traditional diabetes care. As a result, Doustdar said Novo needs to become more focused on meeting patients where they are, while increasing the speed and clarity of its decision-making to keep pace with the evolving market.
“Our operating environment phenomenally changed compared to just 10 years ago,” he told CNBC.
Novo Nordisk will remain the legal name for the company, according to the release. That original name dates back to the 1989 merger of two competing Danish pharmaceutical companies: Novo Terapeutisk Laboratorium and Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium.
The drugmaker said its corporate culture will be based on a new set of four principles that will help it gain advantages in an increasingly competitive market where more of its products have gone direct-to-consumer.
Those tenets are innovating with patients as the primary focus, raising the company’s performance to “create greater value for all stakeholders,” setting clearer priorities and simpler workflows and never compromising on patient safety and ethics.
“When you think about strategy, that’s really the the journey you’re taking and the direction you’re setting the company to go forward with,” Doustdar said. “But you also need behaviors. You need a cultural element that allows your colleagues and yourself to really make sure that a strategy gets executed.”
Despite its challenges, Novo has had one significant tailwind this year in the launch of the oral version of Wegovy. On top of its explosive launch, the pill had a head start over a rival weight loss pill from Lilly called Foundayo.
Doustdar said Novo has maintained “a lion’s share” of the oral market even with competition, noting that physicians find the Wegovy pill to be more effective than Lilly’s, with around 17% of weight loss.
Technologies
Iran says it destroyed U.S. advanced drone over Hormuz as Middle East conflict intensifies
Iran said it downed an advanced American drone over the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran and Washington trade warnings and strikes with no sign of de-escalation.
Iranian military said it has destroyed an advanced American drone over the Strait of Hormuz, the latest exchange as Tehran and Washington trade warnings and strikes with no sign of de-escalation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Monday that its “new advanced aerospace defence system” intercepted and destroyed an advanced MQ-1 drone over the Hormuz strait, without providing further details on the drone’s mission. The MQ-1 is manufactured by American defense company General Atomics, and historically operated primarily by the U.S. Air Force and the CIA.
The incident followed a series of Iranian operations against U.S. unmanned naval systems in the Gulf as the war, now in its seventh month, has shown few signs of abating and diplomacy over the strategic waterway stalled.
On Sunday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. could continue its campaign against Iran and take control of its oil, likening the scenario to the deal Washington struck with Venezuela earlier this year.
“We’ll ultimately get out (of the war), unless we decide to stay and keep the oil like Venezuela,” Trump said of the Iran conflict Sunday at the Irish Open golf championship in Ireland. He added that U.S. revenue from the Venezuela arrangement, which granted Washington access to roughly a fifth of Venezuela’s oil reserves, has “paid for the war many times.”
Under the agreement reached in August, Venezuela ceded majority U.S. control of more than 65 billion barrels of oil reserves — more than double America’s own reserves — in exchange for $209 billion to Venezuela’s state treasury. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the deal would also bring close to $100 billion in private investment to reinvigorate its economy.
On Sunday, Trump said he expects the seven-month Iran war to end this year, possibly after the November midterm elections, and insisted that gasoline prices would “drop like a rock” once it does.
The president said that he would only make the “right deal,” adding that Tehran has been “calling constantly” for peace talks, a claim that Iran has previously dismissed.
Stalled Hormuz talks
A meeting in Oman between Gulf countries and Iran to discuss possible agreements on the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for global oil and gas flows, has been postponed, Omani foreign minister Badr Albusaidi said on X on Sunday, citing the need for “consensus.”
Officials from Iran and Gulf nations had been expected to meet on Monday and sign an agreement establishing an Iran-Oman shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, though no direct talks between the U.S. and Iran were ongoing.
The Strait of Hormuz has been subjected to an Iranian and later U.S. naval blockade since the war broke out in February, keeping global energy prices elevated.
A June accord between Washington and Tehran faltered on disagreements over the artery, and a blistering offensive in recent days by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has given the Tehran-allied group leverage over a second critical waterway, the Bab el-Mandeb.
Ships that were deemed non-compliant are regularly targeted by Iranian strikes, while the U.S. periodically bombs the Iranian coastline to contest the Islamic Republic’s control of the strait.
Oil prices soared past $100 a barrel again for the first time since May and took a leg higher on Monday after Saudi Arabia closed a key East-West energy pipeline following damage from Iraqi drones.
U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up 2.3% to $102.39 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded 2.4% higher to $107.11 a barrel.
-
Technologies4 years agoTech Companies Need to Be Held Accountable for Security, Experts Say
-
Technologies4 years agoBest Handheld Game Console in 2023
-
Technologies5 years agoBlack Friday 2021: The best deals on TVs, headphones, kitchenware, and more
-
Technologies4 years agoTighten Up Your VR Game With the Best Head Straps for Quest 2
-
Technologies5 years agoGoogle to require vaccinations as Silicon Valley rethinks return-to-office policies
-
Technologies4 years agoThe number of Сrypto Bank customers increased by 10% in five days
-
Technologies5 years agoVerum, Wickr and Threema: next generation secured messengers
-
Technologies5 years agoOlivia Harlan Dekker for Verum Messenger