Novo Nordisk Drops 3.11% After Halting Weekly Oral Semaglutide

On May 8, 2025, Novo Nordisk's stock dropped by 3.11% in pre-market trading.

Novo Nordisk recently released its first-quarter financial report for 2025, announcing the termination of the development of a weekly oral semaglutide tablet due to portfolio considerations. This decision comes after the company submitted a new application to the FDA for a 25mg oral version of semaglutide, intended for the treatment of overweight or obesity. This makes it the first global GLP-1 drug to submit an application for market approval.

The company's decision to terminate the development of the weekly oral semaglutide tablet is likely driven by the strong performance of its daily oral semaglutide, which showed promising results in phase one trials. The data revealed that patients with an average baseline weight of 105.4 kg experienced a 17.4% weight reduction after 68 weeks, compared to 1.8% in the placebo group. Additionally, 89.2% of the treatment group achieved a weight loss of at least 5%, compared to 24.5% in the placebo group.

Despite the termination of the weekly oral semaglutide tablet, Novo Nordisk's overall financial performance remains robust. The company reported a 19% year-over-year increase in total revenue for the first quarter, driven by strong sales of its GLP-1 drugs, including Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy. However, the company's decision to lower its full-year earnings forecast due to the rapid expansion of combination drugs in the U.S. market has raised concerns about its future prospects.