Novo Nordisk Expands Weight-Loss Drug Focus Beyond Obesity

Novo Nordisk plans to venture further into obesity therapeutics to determine whether its next-generation weight-loss drug will also successfully address a myriad of health conditions related to obesity.

The Norwegian company, which already took strides with Wegovy, plans to study benefits of its next-generation weight-loss therapies with both severe and common conditions, including knee osteoarthritis and sleep apnea.

During a session at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes conference in Vienna, Martin Holst Lange, Novo's head of research and development, stated that there is a link between obesity and more than 200 comorbidities for obesity. The company is building evidence on the use of its next-generation weight-loss therapies, CagriSema and amycretin, but has not yet announced which conditions it will target with studies.

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"We do know that obesity is actually related to more than 200 different comorbidities," Lange said.

Novo Nordisk has already regulatory approval for semaglutide, the active ingredient of Wegovy, for the prevention of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. Later this year, seminar results that are highly anticipate will showcase whether data on the clinical trial of semaglutide can slow cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer's disease. While Lange called the study “high risk,” analysts remarked that even a small success would impact treatment in an area where few medicines are available.

UBS analysts assigned a 10% chance of success, but they indicated that a breakthrough in the Alzheimer's program could generate $15 billion in additional annual revenue for Novo. Barclays added that the results will provide clarity on whether the Alzheimer's program has potential as a long-term growth driver for Novo.