Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) reported first-quarter results that far exceeded analyst estimates on Wednesday, driven by surging demand for its oral weight-loss pill and strong international sales. Net sales reached $15.2 billion in the quarter, well above the $11.2 billion analysts had forecast.
Sales of Novo Nordisk's newest weight-loss drug are off to a strong start.
Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar spoke with CNBC's Charlotte Reed about strong demand for its weight-loss drugs and a surge in new patients. 🔗Read more: cnb.cx/49ue5z8
Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk, discusses the company's GLP-1 pill following the release of the company's Q1 earnings.
Novo Nordisk's rebound got another lift on Wednesday after the Danish drugmaker delivered a first-quarter beat and showed that its new Wegovy pill is gaining traction faster than Wall Street expected. The NVO stock jumped about 7% in early trading after the results, extending a strong run that has already pushed it well off its March lows.
Novo Nordisk on Wednesday narrowly improved its financial guidance for a year where it still sees profit and sales falling after the fastest take-up in weight-loss drug history for its Wegovy pill.
Novo Nordisk raised its outlook for 2026 after a strong performance from its newly launched Wegovy pill.
Total prescriptions for the Wegovy pill reached around 1.3 million in the first quarter and have exceeded 2 million since it launched.
NVO heads into Q1 with strong GLP-1 drug demand and new Wegovy pill rollout, but pricing pressure, weak guidance and Eli Lilly rivalry weigh on outlook.
The Canadian health regulator said on Friday that it had approved Canada-based Apotex's generic version of semaglutide, making it the second copycat version of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic authorized in the country.
Novo Nordisk faces sustained margin compression due to intensifying price competition in the GLP-1 weight loss drug market. Gross profit margin has declined from over 84% to 80%, and profit margin from over 36% to 33%, with further declines expected. Direct-to-consumer programs and the competitive situation have eroded previously robust self-pay margins for NVO's Wegovy.
Health Canada has approved the first generic version of Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk's blockbuster diabetes drug Ozempic made by Indian drugmaker Dr Reddy's Laboratories , its website showed on Tuesday.