Copenhagen, Denmark: Novo Nordisk has raised its 2026 financial outlook for the third time this year, supported by stronger-than-expected sales of its oral weight-loss drug, Wegovy. The Danish pharmaceutical company reported improved third-quarter performance, driven by growing demand for obesity treatments across the United States and international markets.
The company now expects adjusted sales and operating profit to range from 2% growth to a 2% decline at constant exchange rates, improving on its previous forecast of flat growth to a 6% decline. Wegovy’s pill formulation generated 5.39 billion Danish crowns (approximately US$810 million) in third-quarter revenue, representing a 53% increase from the previous quarter.
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CEO Mike Doustdar said in an interview that “Novo had held its ground since Lilly launched a rival pill. “We’ve been able to hold the baton,” he said, adding that he was convinced Lilly “is trying really hard to reverse this thing, and we need to watch them.”
Novo Nordisk also plans to accelerate the international rollout of the Wegovy pill, targeting availability in more than 20 countries by mid-2027, earlier than its previous timeline of the end of 2027. The product is already available in eight markets.
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The company attributed its improved performance to higher manufacturing output, faster regulatory approvals and increased demand. The latest results mark an important development in its efforts to strengthen its position in the increasingly competitive global obesity treatment market.
