Is Novo Nordisk Increasing Dosage to Defend Wegovy's Edge in Obesity?
Novo Nordisk also markets semaglutide as Ozempic injection and Rybelsus oral tablet for type II diabetes (T2D). The EMA submission is backed by data from the STEP UP and STEP UP T2D studies, which evaluated semaglutide 7.2 mg in obese adult patients, with and without T2D. In the STEP UP study, the higher dose of Wegovy led to an average weight loss of 21%, with one-third of participants shedding at least 25% of their body weight compared with placebo. The 7.2 mg dose was well-tolerated and demonstrated a favorable safety profile, aligning with that of the 2.4 mg dose and previous semaglutide studies.
Novo Nordisk submitted the 7.2 mg dose of Wegovy to offer a tailored option for people with obesity who need greater weight loss support. It is designed to enhance both weight reduction and related health outcomes, such as cardiovascular and kidney function, liver disease, T2D and mobility issues linked to knee osteoarthritis. Backed by a reaffirmed safety and tolerability profile, the company believes the new dose has strong potential to benefit a broader patient population, thereby expanding its reach.
Novo Nordisk also plans to submit the Wegovy 7.2 mg dose for the obesity indication across several other geographies.
Eli Lilly LLY is NVO's fierce competitor in the obesity space, which markets its tirzepatide medicines as Mounjaro for T2D and Zepbound for obesity. NVO's latest EMA submission for the Wegovy 7.2 mg dose is also to tackle the increasing competition from LLY's Zepbound. Lilly's Zepbound had earlier outperformed Novo Nordisk's Wegovy (20.2% compared with 13.7%, respectively) in a weight-loss head-to-head study. Despite being on the market for less than three years, Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound have witnessed strong sales driven by rapid demand.
Several other companies, like Viking Therapeutics VKTX, are also making rapid progress in the development of GLP-1-based candidates in their clinical pipeline. Viking Therapeutics' dual GIPR/GLP-1 receptor agonist, VK2735, is being developed both as oral and subcutaneous formulations for the treatment of obesity. Recently, Viking Therapeutics initiated a late-stage program (VANQUISH), comprising two phase III studies evaluating the subcutaneous version of VK2735 in obesity and T2D patients. VKTX had also initiated a mid-stage study (VENTURE) on the oral formulation of the candidate earlier this year.
Year to date, Novo Nordisk shares have lost 19% compared with the industry's 1.2% decline. The company has also underperformed the sector and the S&P 500 during the same time frame, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Novo Nordisk is trading at a premium to the industry, as seen in the chart below. Going by the price/earnings ratio, the company's shares currently trade at 16.33 forward earnings, which is higher than 14.93 for the industry. However, the stock is trading much below its five-year mean of 29.25.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Earnings estimates for 2025 have improved from $3.89 to $3.93 per share over the past 60 days. During the same time frame, Novo Nordisk's 2026 earnings per share estimates have decreased from $4.70 to $4.58.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The stock's return on equity on a trailing 12-month basis is 80.95%, which is higher than 33.55% for the large drugmaker industry, as seen in the chart below.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Novo Nordisk currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Viking Therapeutics, Inc. (VKTX) : Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
Zacks Investment Research
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Mistake' to close health watchdog service, says York manager
The manager of Healthwatch York has said government plans to close the watchdog service are a 'mistake' – and called on local and national leaders to rethink the proposals. Siân Balsom said she is still 'reeling from the news' that the country-wide Healthwatch Network is to close, with the service's role due to be absorbed into local councils and integrated care boards. But Ms Balsom, writing in The Press, said: 'We're not giving up or giving in just yet.' She said Healthwatch York started in April 2013 to put people 'at the heart of health and social care'. And Ms Balsom said York residents can 'keep using and keep relying' on the service until the closure has been finalised. 'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager The Healthwatch network is an independent statutory body which patients can contact to improve NHS standards of care. But under the government's plans, people will be encouraged to share their feedback via the NHS app instead. The health secretary, West Streeting, has said 'there are way too many checkers and not enough doers' in the health system. Responding to questions about the closure of Healthwatch England at the Local Government Association's annual conference in Liverpool, he said: 'I think there are lots of ways in which we have tried to create new bodies to fulfil the failure of other parts of the state to do their job effectively. 'I mean, the revolution we're leading in patient voice will mean we can get rid of some of the intermediaries, and we don't need ventriloquists to speak for patients, patients can speak for ourselves if we're given the opportunity to do it.' Siân Balsom, manager of Healthwatch York (Image: Supplied) Ms Balsom said she did 'not recognise this description of our work' from the health secretary. 'We ARE doers,' she said. 'We're out and about week in, week out, visiting care homes, local libraries, sitting down with carers groups and disabled people's organisations, community groups and local charities. 'We work closely with our voluntary sector partners to amplify the voices of those least heard in health and care. 'And we choose our priorities based on what you tell us every day – with more than 160 people in York speaking to us in June 2025 alone.' Ms Balsom said Healthwatch York has 'supported people to navigate complex systems and access the help they need'. 'We've published guides to mental health and wellbeing support and dementia support. 'We've challenged gaps in mental health support both when our mental health hospital was closed at short notice and when we heard ongoing concerns about crisis care. 'We've worked to improve access to GP services. 'We've independently evaluated the changes to the adult ADHD and autism pathway. 'We've taken the concerns of deaf people to the heart of the NHS, helping shape the Accessible Information Standard.' Ms Balsom described the proposals to close the Healthwatch Network as a 'mistake'. 'We urge local and national leaders to reflect on what will be lost if Healthwatch is stripped of its independence,' she said. 'An effective health and social care system must include a strong, visible, and impartial patient voice, one that listens without fear or favour, and speaks up without interference.'
Yahoo
38 minutes ago
- Yahoo
'We're not giving up or giving in just yet,' says Healthwatch York manager
Following the government's announcement that the Healthwatch Network is to close, Siân Balsom, manager of Healthwatch York, has called on local and national leaders to rethink the proposals. Press readers will already know the government has decided to abolish Healthwatch England and the network of local Healthwatch organisations. Truth be told, here at Healthwatch York, my small team and I are all still reeling from the news. But we're not giving up or giving in just yet. Healthwatch York started in April 2013. Our role has always been clear to us – putting people at the heart of health and social care. Because the best people to shape services are those using them or, in too many cases, struggling to. Across England, local Healthwatch organisations have played a vital role in raising patient concerns. We shine a light on service failures. We drive improvements through honest, evidence-based reporting. Here in York, we have supported people to navigate complex systems and access the help they need. We've published guides to mental health and wellbeing support and dementia support. We've challenged gaps in mental health support both when our mental health hospital was closed at short notice and when we heard ongoing concerns about crisis care. We've worked to improve access to GP services. We've independently evaluated the changes to the adult ADHD and autism pathway. We've taken the concerns of deaf people to the heart of the NHS, helping shape the Accessible Information Standard. We've worked with the universities in our city to make sure more York voices are heard in research. These achievements were possible because you trusted us to speak up on your behalf. Not as part of the system but as a critical friend holding it to account. We have a seat at the table – attending the Health and Wellbeing Board and other key strategic meetings. But we've always known this isn't our seat – it belongs to each and every one of you, and we use everything we hear every time we take up that seat. Our independence is what enables us to speak both with authority and with integrity. Your voices are what gives our independence real power. We never forget the responsibility we carry to make sure you are heard. We've been told our roles will be absorbed into local authorities and integrated care boards. Our role in listening to people and gathering feedback will be replaced by the NHS app. We have serious concerns about those voices that will never be heard in such a system. Those who don't have smartphones, or the data to use them. Those living with health conditions that mean regular hospital stays are inevitable, and fear speaking out will impact their long-term care. Those who feel they are fighting the system already and have lost faith in its ability to change. Those who just want to tell their story, in their own words and their own time. We know this matters, because people frequently let us know that in telling us it is the first time this happens for them. Having read the NHS 10-year plan and Penny Dash's second review of patient safety, there is real concern they simply don't understand what we do. We've been described as 'ventriloquists' and 'checkers' in a system that needs more doers. We do not recognise this description of our work. We ARE doers. We're out and about week in, week out, visiting care homes, local libraries, sitting down with carers groups and disabled people's organisations, community groups and local charities. We work closely with our voluntary sector partners to amplify the voices of those least heard in health and care. And we choose our priorities based on what you tell us every day – with more than 160 people in York speaking to us in June 2025 alone. We believe the proposed changes are a mistake. We urge local and national leaders to reflect on what will be lost if Healthwatch is stripped of its independence. An effective health and social care system must include a strong, visible, and impartial patient voice, one that listens without fear or favour, and speaks up without interference. Despite the announcement, for us it is business as usual. We will continue at least until new legislation confirms the abolition and this is not expected until 2026. Your voices, your experiences, helping you access the help you need – these remain our priority. Email us at healthwatch@ or phone: 01904 621133. If like us you think independent voice matters, and you want to raise your concerns, please contact your local MP. We also expect to be sharing a petition alongside our Healthwatch network colleagues shortly.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
H2G Green Full Year 2025 Earnings: S$0.27 loss per share (vs S$0.005 loss in FY 2024)
Revenue: S$15.5m (up 52% from FY 2024). Net loss: S$3.84m (loss narrowed by 34% from FY 2024). S$0.27 loss per share. AI is about to change healthcare. These 20 stocks are working on everything from early diagnostics to drug discovery. The best part - they are all under $10bn in marketcap - there is still time to get in early. All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period H2G Green's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago. You still need to take note of risks, for example - H2G Green has 4 warning signs we think you should be aware of. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
