Novo Nordisk sees profit surge amid soaring Wegovy sales

In Denmark, Novo Nordisk reported strong financial results for the fourth quarter, with a net profit increase of 29% compared to the previous year, amounting to 28.23 billion Danish kroner, which exceeded analysts' expectations. This surge in profit is attributed largely to significant demand for Wegovy, a drug aimed at obesity treatment. Sales of Wegovy doubled during this period, reaching 19.87 billion Danish kroner. However, despite these positive results, Novo Nordisk has projected a slowdown in sales growth for 2025, forecasting an increase between 16% and 24%. This projection contrasts with the remarkable sales growth seen in previous years, primarily due to heightened competition from American rivals in the weight-loss drug market. The overall sales growth at the company for the fourth quarter was observed at 30%, aided by strong demand from the regions of North America and Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Additionally, Novo Nordisk's CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, has indicated plans to launch an oral weight loss treatment in the coming year, which is currently being submitted for regulatory approval. Furthermore, recent trial results for CagriSema, a potential next-generation obesity drug, were mixed, prompting the company to conduct further studies to understand its full potential and seek regulatory approval by 2026. While Novo Nordisk is poised for continued growth within the obesity treatment sector, increasing competition poses a challenge to the firm’s future sales, as evidenced by recent stock performance fluctuations.