Europe · Business news · Corporate · 04 Aug 2026
EU Health Care
Novo Nordisk reported second-quarter adjusted operating profit of DKK 33,389m, up 11% at constant exchange rates, on adjusted sales growth of 7%, driven by GLP-1 volume growth and favourable US rebate adjustments. Reported operating profit fell 16% after DKK 6.3bn of non-cash impairments on pipeline assets, including DKK 4.0bn for monlunabant. The company raised its 2026 outlook to 0% to -6% at constant currencies for both adjusted sales and adjusted operating profit, citing higher GLP-1 expectations. Weekly US prescriptions of the Wegovy pill exceeded 265,000 in the week ending 17 July. The ZEUS phase 3 trial of ziltivekimab missed its primary endpoint.
Novo Nordisk is among the largest companies listed in the Nordic region, so its guidance carries weight in European health-care indices on its own. The exposure is US obesity-drug volumes and net prices after rebates, the same market in which Eli Lilly competes and which contract manufacturers and injection-device and packaging suppliers serve. The oral Wegovy launch in the UK and planned EU roll-out of the 7.2 mg pen extend that revenue line in Europe. Even after the increase the guidance range still spans flat to lower sales and profit for the year, and the pipeline write-downs show the cost of failed projects.
Reported by Novo Nordisk — “Novo Nordisk reports adjusted operating profit of DKK 33,389 million for Q2 2026 and raises full-year outlook” ↗ on 04 Aug 2026.
Official series on 04 Aug 2026 or the last day before it, and the latest observation.
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