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Wegovy Pill Drives Novo Nordisk Past Forecasts
6 May
Summary
- Wegovy pill sales exceeded analyst predictions in the first quarter.
- More than two million prescriptions for the pill were issued.
- Novo Nordisk raised its full-year guidance for sales and profit.
Novo Nordisk has announced that surging demand for its Wegovy weight loss pill is on track to exceed trading forecasts. The pharmaceutical firm's shares rose significantly in early trading following this announcement.
The Wegovy pill, launched in January, has seen over two million prescriptions issued globally, with weekly prescriptions now surpassing 200,000. In the quarter ending March 31, sales of the pill reached 2.26 billion Danish krone, surpassing analyst predictions.
Despite the strong performance of the pill, Novo Nordisk's overall adjusted net sales decreased by 10% and adjusted operating profit fell by 15% for the quarter. However, the company has improved its full-year guidance, now expecting adjusted sales to dip by a maximum of 12%, an improvement from the previously guided 13%.
Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk, stated that the rapid adoption of the Wegovy pill, now used by over one million patients, marks a strong start to 2026. He highlighted its position as the most efficacious GLP-1 tablet and the only oral peptide for obesity treatment, setting a new benchmark in the field.
Analysts noted that while the initial euphoria around Novo Nordisk's shares has subsided, the company's performance indicates a healthy business with significant long-term potential for Wegovy. The pill is seen as a consequential development in obesity treatment, contributing to sensible long-term growth in share price.
