Denmark-based pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk reported a 67% year-on-year surge in Q2 sales of its obesity drug Wegovy, boosting overall revenue growth. Despite strong financials, the company faces mounting pressure due to weakened U.S. sales forecasts, intensified competition, and regulatory headwinds.
Denmark-based pharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk has reported a sharp 67% year-on-year increase in second-quarter sales of its obesity treatment drug Wegovy, reaching 19.53 billion Danish kroner, the company disclosed in its Q2 2025 financial update.
While slightly under the analyst forecast of 20 billion Danish kroner, Wegovy’s growth continues to underscore the company’s dominance in the weight-loss drug market. Overall sales rose 13% at constant exchange rates to 76.86 billion Danish kroner (approximately USD 11.92 billion), just ahead of expectations.
Net profit for the quarter stood at 26.5 billion Danish kroner, in line with consensus forecasts. Despite these strong headline figures, Novo Nordisk’s shares dipped by 1.5% as markets responded to broader concerns around its reduced second-half sales outlook in the United States.
The company reaffirmed its full-year 2025 guidance, projecting annual sales growth of 8% to 14% and operating profit growth between 10% and 16%, both at constant exchange rates.
We are taking measures to sharpen our commercial execution further and ensure efficiencies in our cost base while continuing to invest in future growth.”
President and CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, Novo Nordisk
The company also announced its intent to tighten cost controls and enhance commercial focus amid stock volatility.
Effective this Thursday, leadership will transition to Maziar Mike Doustdar, the incoming CEO. Doustdar emphasized a renewed push toward performance and ambition, promising to steer the company toward higher operational benchmarks.
Novo Nordisk’s recent challenges stem from intensifying competition in the U.S. obesity market, along with increased pressure from regulatory environments and disappointing trial results for its upcoming obesity drug candidate. The company also faces potential headwinds from anticipated tariff increases on pharmaceuticals and policy demands to lower prescription drug prices to globally competitive levels.
Despite these hurdles, Novo Nordisk remains firmly positioned in the obesity drug market, with its blockbuster Wegovy continuing to act as a major revenue engine for the Danish pharma firm.
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