Novo Nordisk: Wegovy CV risk reduction 42% in perimenopausal women, oral pill sales double forecasts, high-dose 27.7% weight loss at obesity congress.<\/p>\n
Novo Nordisk used the European Obesity Congress in Istanbul to press home a multi-layered message: its blockbuster Wegovy is not just a weight-loss product, but a cardiovascular shield for specific high-risk groups. New analyses from the SELECT trial showed that perimenopausal women taking semaglutide suffered 42% fewer major adverse cardiovascular events than those on placebo. For postmenopausal women, the reduction still reached 13%, underscoring how the drug counters the hormonal shifts that often drive weight gain and metabolic deterioration in that life stage.<\/p>\n
The oral version of Wegovy is proving to be the real commercial surprise. In its first full quarter on the US market, the pill generated around 2.26 billion Danish kroner in revenue \u2014 nearly double what analysts had penciled in. All three major US pharmacy benefit managers have added it to their standard formularies at parity with the injectable. Citi raised its price target to 290 Danish kroner while keeping a “Neutral” rating, estimating 2026 pill sales of $2.7 billion against a consensus of just $1.7 billion. SB1 Markets was more bullish, lifting its target to 350 kroner with a buy recommendation.<\/p>\n
To focus firepower on its core diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular franchises, the Danish pharma group is pruning peripheral assets. It sold its Parkinson\u2019s disease cell therapy programme to the startup Cellular Intelligence, offloading early-stage neurological risk and freeing up resources for the metabolic pipeline. The move comes as Novo Nordisk gears up for a protracted fight with Eli Lilly, which launched its own oral obesity pill, Foundayo, in April.<\/p>\n
On the data front, the Istanbul congress saw 52 scientific abstracts from Novo, with high-dose Wegovy (7.2 mg) drawing particular attention. Among patients who had already lost at least 15% of body weight within 24 weeks, the higher dose delivered an average 27.7% weight reduction at 72 weeks. Across the entire study population, the figure was roughly 21% \u2014 significantly more than the 17% achieved with the standard 2.4 mg dose. Importantly, the weight loss came predominantly from body fat, with muscle mass largely preserved \u2014 a clinical and commercial distinction.<\/p>\n
Should investors sell immediately? Or is it worth buying Novo Nordisk?<\/a><\/p>\n CagriSema, the combination therapy that suffered a setback earlier this year when it underperformed vs Lilly\u2019s Zepbound, is not being written off. In Istanbul, Novo presented new REDEFINE-1 data on body composition, muscle strength and cardiovascular risk. The FDA is reviewing a marketing application, with a decision expected in 2026.<\/p>\n Investors have responded warmly. The stock has bounced roughly 31% from its March low, and on Wednesday it hit \u20ac40.67 in Europe \u2014 a monthly gain of more than 26%. Operating momentum remains strong: first-quarter adjusted operating profit came in at nearly 33 billion Danish kroner, and management recently raised full-year guidance on sustained demand for both injectable and oral semaglutide formulations.<\/p>\n The company is also widening access. A new telemedicine tie-up with Hims & Hers will expand digital distribution of Wegovy and Ozempic pens. And from July 1, the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge programme will ease access for overweight beneficiaries in the US public health system, strengthening Novo\u2019s negotiating hand with insurers and health authorities.<\/p>\n