Novo Nordisk Sinks on Disappointing Trial Results for Next Gen Weight Loss Drug | Global News Avenue

Novo Nordisk (non-governmental organization) shares fell more than 19% in premarket trading Friday after the company released trial results of its next-generation weight-loss drug, which is designed to add to its current lineup of Ozempic and Wegovy products.

Shares of the Danish drugmaker fell 17% on Friday morning, after already trending lower since septemberwhen Sales slowed slightly and people are competition intensifies exist Weight loss drug market.

New drug reduces weight by 22.7%

Novo Nordisk said on Friday its new injectable weight loss drug CagriSema achieved its primary goal in a study of more than 3,400 patients, losing an average of 22.7% of patients’ body weight.

By comparison, patients who took just one of CagriSema’s two drugs, cagrilintide and semaglutide, the active ingredients in Ozempic and Wegovy, lost 11.8% and 16.1% of their body weight.

The ingredients in the drug are designed to mimic chemicals released in the body after people eat, helping people feel fuller for longer, making it easier to eat less.

The 22.7% average was below the target reported by Novo Nordisk last month Bloomberg 25% weight loss. Novo Nordisk said about 40% of people taking CagriSema met the 25% mark.

During the trial, only 57% of CagriSema patients reached the highest dose level of the drug available, compared with 82.5% and 70.2% of patients taking the highest dose of cagritide and semaglutide, respectively.

Novo Nordisk’s U.S. shares fell 19.5% in premarket trading and were set to open at their lowest since August 2023 after starting the year essentially flat. Shares of weight-loss rival Eli Lilly and Company (Li Lai) rose 7% after the trial results were released.