Novo Nordisk is cutting the cost of its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in half for U.S. patients paying cash through its direct-to-patient online pharmacy, as competition in the highly lucrative market stiffens.  With NovoCare Pharmacy, uninsured patients or eligible patients with commercial insurance who do not have coverage can access all dose strengths of Wegovy, the brand name for semaglutide, for $499 per month. This includes 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, 1 mg, 1.7 mg, and 2.4 mg dose strengths. The list price ...

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk's stock has underperformed significantly, losing 21% in the past three months, while the industry grew by 4.6% [1][2]. Group 1: Stock Performance - Novo Nordisk shares are currently trading above their 50-day moving average but below their 200-day moving average [1]. - The company's stock has faced a decline due to several factors, including setbacks in its investigational obesity candidate, CagriSema, which has benefited its competitor, Eli Lilly [3][4]. - The removal of Eli Lilly's tirzepatide from the FDA's drug shortage list allows it to meet demand, potentially increasing its market share at the expense of Novo Nordisk's semaglutide products [4]. Group 2: Financial Performance - Despite recent setbacks, Novo Nordisk's revenues surged by 129% on a reported basis, with a net profit margin reaching a five-year high of 36% in 2023 [5][6]. - Wegovy, a key product, saw revenues grow by 86% to DKK 58 billion in 2024, while Ozempic sales increased by 26% to DKK 120 billion [9]. Group 3: Market Position and Competition - Novo Nordisk maintains a strong presence in the diabetes care market with a 33.7% global market share, driven by its GLP-1 products [8]. - The company is the global market leader in the GLP-1 segment, holding approximately 55.1% value market share [8]. - Competitors like Amgen and Viking Therapeutics are advancing in the development of GLP-1-based candidates, posing future competition [10]. Group 4: Growth Opportunities - Novo Nordisk is exploring additional uses for semaglutide, including potential treatments for heart failure and chronic kidney disease [11][12]. - The company is also diversifying its portfolio with new treatments for hemophilia A and B [13]. - Plans to expand the indications for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus could increase patient eligibility and boost revenues [21]. Group 5: Valuation and Estimates - Novo Nordisk is trading at a premium valuation with a price/earnings ratio of 21.96 compared to the industry average of 17.8 [14]. - Earnings estimates for 2025 have slightly decreased from $3.88 to $3.84 per share, while 2026 estimates have increased from $4.53 to $4.66 [16]. - The company's return on equity stands at 84.69%, significantly higher than the industry average of 34.61% [19].

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk is launching a direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, NovoCare, offering its weight loss drug Wegovy at a significantly reduced price of $499 per month, compared to its previous list price of nearly $1,350 per month, aiming to increase accessibility for patients without insurance coverage [1][3]. Group 1: Pricing and Accessibility - The new cash-pay offering is designed for millions of patients lacking insurance coverage, including those on Medicare, to make Wegovy more accessible [2]. - Wegovy will be available for $499 per month through NovoCare, which is less than half of its original list price [3]. - The pharmacy will provide home delivery of Wegovy prescriptions and additional patient support services, including refill reminders and access to live case managers [3][4]. Group 2: Competitive Landscape - Novo Nordisk's strategy mirrors that of its main competitor, Eli Lilly, which launched its own direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, LillyDirect, to facilitate access to its weight loss drug Zepbound [5]. - Eli Lilly's LillyDirect also offers Zepbound at a reduced price, with single-dose vials available for half or less of its usual $1,000 monthly list price [6]. - The FDA has recently declared the shortages of both Zepbound and Wegovy over, which will limit the ability of compounding pharmacies to create unapproved versions of these injections [6].

"Novo Nordisk continues to advance solutions for patients that improve affordability and access to our medicines, whether they have insurance or not. Today, over 55 million people in the U.S. have coverage specifically for weight management medicines, and 90% of Wegovy® patients with coverage pay $0 to $25 a month for Wegovy®," said Dave Moore, Executive Vice President, U.S. Operations and Global Business Development and President of Novo Nordisk Inc. "With NovoCare® Pharmacy, patients and prescribers alike ...

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk's stock has experienced significant volatility, with a five-fold return during the pandemic but currently trading 39% below its peak, raising questions about potential investment opportunities [1][2]. Group 1: Performance Overview - Novo Nordisk's stock has outperformed the market, with a 191% increase over the past five years compared to a 94% gain in the S&P 500 [3]. - The company was primarily known for insulin and diabetes treatments until the launch of Ozempic in 2017, which has contributed significantly to its performance [3]. Group 2: Product Insights - Ozempic activates GLP-1 receptors, enhancing insulin secretion and appetite suppression, making it effective for type 2 diabetes patients [4]. - In 2021, the FDA approved semaglutide for chronic weight management under the brand name Wegovy, leading to substantial sales growth, reaching $28.4 billion in 2024 [5]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Novo Nordisk faces competition from compounding pharmacies and Eli Lilly's tirzepatide, which has gained market share and demonstrated superior weight loss efficacy in clinical trials [6][7][8]. - Tirzepatide's sales rose 208% to $16.5 billion, while semaglutide's sales growth was only 35% last year, indicating a potential loss of market share for Novo Nordisk [9]. Group 4: Future Growth Potential - The FDA has resolved the shortage of Wegovy and Ozempic, which could lead to increased sales growth for semaglutide in 2025 if legal challenges from compounding pharmacies fail [12]. - Novo Nordisk is continuing to develop cagrisema, which may offer competitive advantages over tirzepatide in future studies [13]. - The overall GLP-1 drug market is projected to reach $150 billion by 2030, indicating significant growth potential for Novo Nordisk [13]. Group 5: Valuation and Investment Considerations - Novo Nordisk's stock is currently valued at 23.5 times forward-looking earnings estimates, which is considered modest given its historical earnings growth of over 20% annually [15]. - The potential for cagrisema to enhance growth could make the current stock price an attractive entry point for long-term investors [15].

Core Insights - The article highlights the performance and outlook of several major companies, including Novo Nordisk, Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, and Star Group, based on recent research reports from Zacks Equity Research. Novo Nordisk - Shares of Novo Nordisk have underperformed the Zacks Large Cap Pharmaceuticals industry over the past year, declining by 37% compared to a 3% increase in the industry [4] - The company faced setbacks due to the failure to meet weight-loss targets with CagriSema and intense competition in the obesity sector, alongside challenges from patent expirations and pricing pressures in the diabetes market [4] - Despite these challenges, Novo Nordisk exceeded fourth-quarter earnings and sales estimates, driven by strong performance from diabetes drugs Ozempic and Rybelsus, as well as the obesity drug Wegovy [5] - The company is addressing supply constraints for Wegovy through significant investments to increase production and is expanding its indications to include cardiovascular benefits [6] Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola's shares have outperformed the Zacks Beverages - Soft Drinks industry over the past year, increasing by 19.2% compared to a 6.6% rise in the industry [7] - The company has consistently beaten sales and earnings expectations for eight consecutive quarters, with fourth-quarter results benefiting from strong business momentum and higher pricing amid inflation [8] - Coca-Cola's strategy focuses on marketing, innovation, and revenue growth management, which is expected to drive revenue growth in 2025, although the company faces inflationary cost pressures [9] Wells Fargo - Shares of Wells Fargo have outperformed the Zacks Financial - Investment Bank industry over the past six months, increasing by 42.2% compared to a 25% rise in the industry [10] - The company is enhancing its risk management and compliance infrastructure, having resolved ten regulatory consent orders since 2019, which supports its operational strategy [10] - Efficiency initiatives, including branch reductions, are expected to lower expenses and drive growth, although loan growth may be limited due to ongoing regulatory constraints [12] Star Group - Star Group's shares have outperformed the Zacks Electronics - Miscellaneous Products industry over the past year, increasing by 26.6% compared to a 44.2% decline in the industry [13] - The company reported a first-quarter net income surge to $32.9 million, driven by favorable derivative movements, despite revenue declines [13] - Adjusted EBITDA rose to $51.9 million, supported by acquisitions and margin expansion, although overall revenues fell by 7.6% to $488.1 million due to lower selling prices [14][15]

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk A/S faced a significant drop in stock price following the announcement of disappointing results from their "REDEFINE 1" trial, which investigated the efficacy of CagriSema for weight loss [1] Summary by Relevant Sections Class Action Notice - Shareholders who purchased shares of Novo Nordisk (NVO) between November 2, 2022, and December 19, 2024, are encouraged to contact the Gross Law Firm regarding potential lead plaintiff appointment [1] - The class action is in response to allegations stemming from the trial results announced on December 20, 2024 [1] Trial Results - The "REDEFINE 1" trial showed that patients treated with CagriSema experienced a weight loss of 22.7% after 68 weeks, which was below the company's target of at least 25% [1] - Only 57.3% of patients were on the highest dosage during the trial, as they were allowed to modify their own dosage [1] Stock Price Impact - Following the announcement of the trial results, Novo's stock price fell by $18.44 per share, closing at $85.00 per share [1]

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE: NVO) is embroiled in a class-action lawsuit filed by investors who claim they were misled about the future of its experimental obesity treatment, CagriSema. Hagens Berman urges investors who purchased Novo Nordisk shares and suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge of the trial and its design to contact the firm's attorneys.Class Period: Nov. 2, 2022 – Dec. 19, 2024Lead Plaintif ...

Core Viewpoint - A class action lawsuit has been initiated against Novo Nordisk A/S, alleging that the company made false or misleading statements regarding its CagriSema obesity treatment during the class period from November 2, 2022, to December 19, 2024, leading to significant investor losses [1][3]. Summary by Sections Class Action Details - Investors who purchased Novo Nordisk securities during the specified class period can file a lead plaintiff motion by March 25, 2025 [1]. - The Portnoy Law Firm is offering complimentary case evaluations to affected investors [2]. Allegations Against Novo Nordisk - The lawsuit claims that Novo Nordisk misrepresented the reliability of projected success for the Phase 3 CagriSema obesity study, "REDEFINE-1," and did not adequately discuss dosage tolerability [5]. - The company’s claims that CagriSema would achieve at least 25% weight loss in the REDEFINE-1 study were deemed unrealistic [5]. - The flexible protocol of the study limited its ability to provide meaningful weight loss data, suggesting potential issues with dosage tolerability or a rushed patient selection process [5]. Impact on Stock Price - Following the release of results from the REDEFINE-1 trial on December 20, 2024, Novo Nordisk's stock price experienced a nearly 18% drop, indicating a significant market reaction to the disclosed information [3].

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk A/S is facing a class action securities lawsuit due to alleged securities fraud related to disappointing results from their "REDEFINE 1" trial for CagriSema, which fell short of expectations [1][2] Group 1: Lawsuit Details - The class action lawsuit seeks to recover losses for investors affected by the alleged fraud between November 2, 2022, and December 19, 2024 [1] - The "REDEFINE 1" trial results indicated that patients treated with CagriSema experienced a weight loss of 22.7% after 68 weeks, below the company's target of at least 25% [2] - Following the announcement of the trial results, Novo's stock price dropped by $18.44, closing at $85.00 per share [2] Group 2: Next Steps for Investors - Investors who suffered losses during the relevant timeframe have until March 25, 2025, to request to be appointed as lead plaintiff [3] - Participation in the lawsuit does not require serving as a lead plaintiff, and there are no out-of-pocket costs for class members [3] Group 3: Firm Background - Levi & Korsinsky, LLP has a history of securing significant compensation for shareholders and has extensive experience in complex securities litigation [4] - The firm has been recognized in ISS Securities Class Action Services' Top 50 Report for seven consecutive years as one of the leading securities litigation firms in the U.S. [4]