Novo Nordisk targets higher sales and operating profit for the year on the back of projected profit growth in the first quarter thanks to strong sales of new diabetes and obesity drugs.

Financial report highlights

• Operating profit increased by 28% in Danish kroner and by 18% at constant exchange rates (CER) to DKK 19.1 billion ($1 = 7.0576 Danish crowns).
• Sales in International Operations increased by 18% in Danish kroner (13% at CER), and sales in North America Operations increased by 33% in Danish kroner (24% at CER)
• Sales within Diabetes and Obesity care increased by 27% in Danish kroner to DKK 36.7 billion (20% at CER), mainly driven by GLP-1 diabetes sales growth of 54% in Danish kroner (45% at CER). Rare disease sales increased by 8% measured in Danish kroner (3% at CER).
• Obesity care sales grew 119% in Danish Kroner (107% at CER) driven by Wegovy^® sales of DKK 1.4 billion. The contract manufacturer filling syringes for Wegovy^® has reinitiated commercial production and Novo Nordisk expects to make all Wegovy^® dose strengths available in the US during the second half of 2022.
• Within R&D, Novo Nordisk in April 2022 successfully completed the first phase 3a trial with insulin icodec, a long-acting once-weekly insulin. In February 2022, the phase 3 trial with concizumab in people with haemophilia A and B with inhibitors was successfully completed.
• For the 2022 outlook, sales growth is now expected to be 10-14% at CER and operating profit growth is now expected to be 9-13% at CER. Sales and operating profit growth reported in Danish kroner are now expected to be 7 and 11 percentage points higher than at CER, respectively. The ongoing share repurchase programme is expanded by DKK 2 billion to DKK 24 billion.

Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and CEO:

We are very pleased with the sales growth in the first three months of 2022 which is driven by increasing demand for our GLP-1-based treatments. The sales momentum has enabled us to raise our outlook for the full year. Within R&D, we are encouraged by the first phase 3 trial with once-weekly insulin icodec showing the potential to reduce the number of injections and improve quality of life for people needing insulin treatment as well as the progress with our late-stage pipeline in Rare disease.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Novo Nordisk employs about 49,300 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. Novo Nordisk’s B shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO).