COPENHAGEN, Feb 1, 2026, 20:32 CET — The market has closed.
- On Friday, Novo Nordisk Class B shares ended lower as traders focused on demand signals for the new Wegovy pill.
- The company plans to release its 2025 financial statement this week, with investors closely watching for guidance and supply updates.
- Investor focus has shifted to the company’s China operations following a shake-up in senior leadership.
Novo Nordisk A/S Class B shares (NOVOb.CO) ended Friday at 369.6 Danish crowns, slipping 0.8 crown. Investors brace for a results-packed week, keen on fresh demand figures for the company’s new weight-loss drug. (Investing)
As the Copenhagen market remains closed for the weekend, all eyes turn to the upcoming report. The key question: how much of the initial excitement over the oral version of Wegovy will surface in the company’s guidance and commentary?
Prescriptions offer a rare, near-real-time glimpse into whether Novo can sustain its obesity drug momentum amid rising competition and growing scrutiny over price and access from buyers.
A Reuters report on Friday revealed that Novo’s Wegovy pill hit 26,109 U.S. prescriptions in the week ending Jan. 23, according to IQVIA data cited by an analyst. That’s a sharp increase from just 3,071 prescriptions in the first four days after its Jan. 5 debut. Barclays analysts described the launch as “very strong” in a note, Reuters added. (Reuters)
Novo plans to release its 2025 financial statement and Q4 results on Feb. 4 before Nasdaq Copenhagen opens, with an earnings call scheduled for later that day. (Novo Nordisk)
Investors are keen to catch any change in the company’s outlook on demand for obesity drugs, production capacity, and the speed of the Wegovy pill rollout. They’ll also be watching for updates on the wider pipeline supporting its blockbuster products.
Another angle unfolds in Asia. Reuters reported Friday that Christine Zhou, the senior vice president heading Novo’s China operations since 2018, is set to depart at the end of March. Rising competition and shifting local patent dynamics are driving the change. (Reuters)
The competitive landscape is shifting. On Friday, AstraZeneca secured a licensing deal for experimental obesity treatments from CSPC Pharmaceutical Group. AstraZeneca executive Sharon Barr emphasized the search for therapies offering “better tolerability and more durable responses” for patients. (Reuters)
Still, Novo bulls face a straightforward risk: early prescription numbers might slow once the initial surge fades, and oral treatments may not immediately replace injections despite being needle-free. Signs that adoption falls short of expectations—or that rivals are gaining ground faster—could quickly dampen sentiment.
Traders are gearing up for Feb. 4, when Novo’s 2025 financial statement drops. They’ll be zeroing in on the outlook and details about how the Wegovy pill is expected to impact results. Updates on U.S. prescriptions will also roll out in the weeks after.
