Image source: Getty Images. <\/p>\n Results but no benefits <\/p>\n Ziltivekimab is a once-monthly injection that inhibits the interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein. When it binds to its receptors, IL-6 can trigger chronic inflammation and the release of C-reactive protein from the liver. <\/p>\n The Zeus trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that tested 6,300 people with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), and inflammation. They received a once-monthly shot of ziltivekimab to see if it would reduce their risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) like heart attacks and strokes. <\/p>\n The study found that ziltivekimab was effective in lowering levels of free IL-6 and C-reactive protein in patients’ bloodstreams, indicating success in reducing inflammation. Unfortunately, those reductions didn’t translate into a lowered risk of MACE in the target population. Worse, because inflammation is the body’s response to infections, a higher proportion of people treated with ziltivekimab experienced serious infections compared with those who received a placebo. However, no difference in mortality was observed. <\/p>\n The two ongoing ziltivekimab trials, Hermes and Artemis, are similarly structured, except that instead of testing ziltivekimab in people with ASCVD, CKD, and inflammation, the company is testing it in people with heart failure (Hermes) and those who have experienced an acute heart attack (Artemis). <\/p>\n Image source: Novo Nordisk. <\/p>\n The fallout <\/p>\n According to the company, the failure won’t affect Novo Nordisk’s adjusted operating profit outlook for 2026, although the company will incur a non-cash impairment charge in Q3. The loss is mostly in potential future income. <\/p>\n Given the success of Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide injections<\/a>, Ozempic and Wegovy, you might not expect a trial of an experimental cardiovascular drug to have such an outsize impact on the stock. <\/p>\n Story Continues <\/p>\n Investors had been hoping that ziltivekimab would expand the company’s reach beyond diabetes and weight-loss drugs. The clinical trial failure is a big letdown because the lack of a MACE reduction among patients in the Zeus trial suggests such a reduction may be less likely in the Hermes and Artemis trial populations as well. <\/p>\n Whether to buy the dip <\/p>\n Although today’s share price drop was big, it didn’t come close to the company’s back-to-back 17% share price declines in February. <\/p>\n The first of those came after management issued a bleak 2026 outlook that predicted drops in revenue and operating profit of up to 13% for the year, and the second came after Novo Nordisk’s next-generation obesity drug, CagriSema, underperformed Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) rival treatment, tirzepatide<\/a>, in a head-to-head trial. <\/p>\n That said, the market for GLP-1 obesity treatments is massive and growing quickly, reaching an expected $120 billion by 2030. In fact, Novo Nordisk upped its full-year guidance in May on the back of strong Wegovy sales in Q1. <\/p>\n While it’s preferable for a drugmaker to have multiple blockbuster drugs in its arsenal, Novo Nordisk still has plenty of growth opportunities from semaglutide alone. The company’s shares are currently trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of just 11, near its all-time low. <\/p>\n For those who have been waiting to buy into the GLP-1 treatment market, now looks like an excellent opportunity to do so. <\/p>\n Should you buy stock in Novo Nordisk right now? <\/p>\n Before you buy stock in\u00a0Novo Nordisk, consider this: <\/p>\n The Motley Fool\u00a0Stock Advisor\u00a0analyst team just identified what they believe are the\u00a010 best stocks<\/a>\u00a0for investors to buy now\u2026 and\u00a0Novo Nordisk\u00a0wasn’t one of them.\u00a0The 10 stocks that made the cut are built for long-term growth and could produce monster returns in the coming years. <\/p>\n Consider when\u00a0Netflix\u00a0made this list on December 17, 2004… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,\u00a0you’d have $394,601!*\u00a0Or\u00a0when\u00a0Nvidia\u00a0made this list on April 15, 2005… if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation,\u00a0you’d have $1,197,093!* <\/p>\n That performance is why people listen. With a track record of\u00a0beating the S&P 500 by 4x,\u00a0Stock Advisor\u00a0offers a distinct advantage. Don’t miss the latest top 10 list, available with\u00a0Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built for the long haul. <\/p>\n See the 10 stocks \u00bb<\/a> <\/p>\n *Stock Advisor returns as of July 31, 2026. <\/p>\n John Bromels<\/a> has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/a> <\/p>\n
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