Novo Nordisk’s New Ceo Says The Fight For Obesity Drugs Is “a Marathon Not A Sprint”

Novo Nordisk’s recently appointed main executive Mike Doustdar has described nan conflict for power successful nan world obesity-drug marketplace arsenic “a marathon, not a sprint,” arsenic nan shaper of Ozempic guided investors to nan little extremity of its 2025 income and profit forecasts and highlighted nan costs of a awesome restructuring.

In results published connected November 5, nan Danish pharmaceutical group said it now expects income maturation of 8–11 per cent astatine changeless speech rates, compared pinch a erstwhile scope of 8–14 per cent. Operating-profit maturation is forecast astatine 4–7 per cent, down from 4–10 per cent.

The latest outlook includes a DKr 8 cardinal (€1.07 billion) complaint linked to a restructuring programme that will spot 9,000 occupation cuts, according to nan Financial Times.

Novo Nordisk besides missed expert expectations connected diluted net per stock successful nan 3rd quarter. Sales roseate 15 per cent astatine changeless speech rates to DKr 75 cardinal (€10.05 billion), beneath nan DKr 77 cardinal (€10.32 billion) consensus. Sales of glucosuria treatments, including Ozempic and Rybelsus, were up 7 per cent.

Doustdar, who took complete successful August 2025 aft nan erstwhile main executive’s departure, said he was “incredibly comfortable” astir expanding entree to weight-loss medicines. He emphasised that nan situation is little astir defending stock and much astir “market entree and expanding nan market”, noting that only 1–2 cardinal group are presently receiving curen retired of nan 1 cardinal surviving pinch obesity worldwide.

Novo has mislaid crushed successful nan United States to Eli Lilly, whose Mounjaro and Zepbound narcotics person quickly gained traction. The group besides faces title from replica (compounded) versions of GLP-1 medicines, pinch slower-than-expected income of Wegovy and Ozempic contributing to nan revised outlook.

According to Business Insider, Novo’s shares person fallen astir 50 per cent this twelvemonth amid rising title and US pharmaceutical tariffs, moreover arsenic nine-month income roseate 12 per cent successful kroner (15 per cent CER) and nett profit accrued 4 per cent. The publication besides cited an estimated €1 cardinal restructuring impact.

Metsera bid and maturation strategy

Doustdar said Novo’s bid for US biotech Metsera was not a motion of weakness successful its ain pipeline but an effort to get “highly competitory and complementary products.”

The institution is besides processing direct-to-consumer partnerships pinch Walmart and Costco successful nan US, expanding telehealth services to caller markets, and engaging master doctors to beforehand nan wider benefits of Wegovy, including its precocious approved denotation for MASH (metabolic-associated steatohepatitis).

GLP-1 medicines specified arsenic Wegovy are transforming obesity attraction crossed Europe.
For residents successful Spain and different EU countries, Novo’s attraction connected entree partnerships and master outreach – mixed pinch intensifying title – could impact availability, waiting times, and out-of-pocket costs for curen passim 2026.

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