These 4 charts show the scale of Novo Nordisk's woes

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk, once a leader in the GLP-1 weight loss drug market, is facing significant challenges, including pricing pressure, competition, and setbacks in its drug pipeline, leading to a substantial decline in stock value [1][10][14]. Market Position and Competition - Novo Nordisk's market share has decreased to approximately 40%, while Eli Lilly has captured about 60% of the market [2]. - The company is aware of the competitive landscape and pricing challenges, with CEO Mike Doustdar indicating that sales are expected to decline before recovering [2][11]. Financial Performance - The combined sales of Novo's two major drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, reached around $32 billion, constituting about 67% of total sales last year [6]. - In contrast, Eli Lilly's top two drugs generated approximately $37 billion, representing 56% of its total sales [6]. - Novo Nordisk anticipates a sales and profit decline of 5% to 13% in 2026, marking the first annual sales drop since 2017 [16]. Stock Performance - Novo's stock has plummeted by 75% from its peak of over 1,000 Danish kroner per share in mid-2024, while Eli Lilly's stock has surged by 400% during the same period [13][14]. Future Prospects - The company is pinning hopes on new products like the Wegovy pill and CagriSema to drive future growth, although recent trial results for CagriSema have raised doubts about its commercial viability [17][18]. - The competitive landscape is expected to intensify as other large-cap pharmaceutical companies plan to enter the weight loss drug market with differentiated offerings [17].