Novo Nordisk Q2 profits rise amid tough sales outlook

(Sharecast News) - Danish drugs giant Novo Nordisk posted a jump in second-quarter profit on Wednesday, against a backdrop of reduced sales forecasts and competitors threatening its blockbuster Ozempic and Wegovy weight loss treatments. The group reported a net profit of 26.5 billion kroner, up 32% on last year. Sales rose 18 percent to 76 billion kroner.

Second-quarter sales of Wegovy rose 67% to 19.53 billion kroner. Novo last week warned on profits and replaced its chief executive, sparking a share price slump.

It held full-year guidance on Wednesday and named Maziar Mike Doustdar to take over from CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen.

"We have lowered our full-year outlook due to lower growth expectations for our GLP-1 treatments in the second half of 2025," Jorgensen said.

Sales for 2025 sales are now expected to grow between 8% and 14%, cut in the profit warning from 13% - 21%.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com