Novo Nordisk cautiously optimistic on key GLP-1 obesity study, says Deutsche Bank Proactive uses images sourced from Shutterstock
Deutsche Bank has maintained its ‘hold’ rating on Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) with a price target of DKK290 after hosting the Danish drugmaker’s head of research and development, Martin Lange.
Analyst Emmanuel Papadakis said the key takeaway was that Novo is cautiously optimistic its cagrisema RD11 obesity study will yield a better result than the earlier RD4 trial, which disappointed markets when data was released.
Cagrisema is Novo’s next-generation combination therapy that pairs the GLP-1 receptor agonist semaglutide with the amylin analogue cagrilintide, and is considered central to the company’s efforts to maintain its lead in the fast-growing obesity drug market.
However, Papadakis said he heard little to change his view that the RI4 study in diabetes could produce another counterproductive datapoint for the company.
On the oral obesity market, Deutsche noted it is too early to call relative preferences between injectable and oral formats, with Novo’s recently launched oral semaglutide product Foundayo competing against its established injectable Wegovy.
Convenience and patient familiarity are driving early oral uptake, but the broker questioned how sustainable that momentum is and how forgiving the market will be when it inevitably slows.
Novo Nordisk shares were trading at DKK 287.50, marginally below Deutsche Bank’s target, leaving limited upside on the broker’s estimates.
The company remains locked in an increasingly competitive battle with Eli Lilly in the GLP-1 obesity and diabetes space, with both firms racing to develop next-generation therapies and oral formulations.