Joining me now is Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar. Thanks so much for making time today. Thank you very much.Great. So I really appreciate the time. And so this year we've seen the explosive launch of your Wegovy pill.But we've also seen an outlook that diverges from your competitor despite the same pricing headwinds. And so what would be your message to investors who feel mixed about the trajectory of your business in 2026. We have, for a while now has been speaking at 2026 will be a different year, differe ...

Pfizer said that a monthly regimen of an obesity drug obtained in its deal for Metsera produced up to 12.3% weight loss after 28 weeks compared to a placebo https://t.co/wmvs3R3LkP ...

Drug Efficacy and Maintenance - Lily's obesity pill shows potential as a maintenance treatment for weight loss, allowing patients to maintain weight loss without weekly injections [1] - Patients in the BGOI group regained approximately 2 pounds (约 0.9 千克) of their weight after one year [2] - Patients in the Zeppbound group regained approximately 11 pounds (约 5 千克) of their weight after one year [2] - The pill helps patients maintain the majority of weight initially lost through injections [1] Market Implications - The pill could play a significant role in the weight loss drug market as a maintenance treatment, potentially increasing drug uptake after approval [2] Pricing and Availability - The exact pricing for Novaortis or Eli Lilly's pills is currently unknown, as it is typically announced post-approval [3] - Initial doses for the pills may be priced at $150 per month for cash payments through the Trump RX direct-to-consumer website, launching in January 2026 [3] - The pricing for higher doses of the pills remains undisclosed [4]

Drug Development - Eli Lilly's next-generation obesity shot helped patients lose almost 25% of their body weight [1] - The experimental drug is potentially the most potent weight loss medicine yet [1]

Policy & Regulation - A new Trump plan aims to reduce prescription costs, potentially allowing seniors to pay $50 per month for weight loss drugs like Ozempic [1]

Market Dynamics & Strategic Acquisitions - Novo Nordisk lowered its full-year profit and revenue forecast [1] - A potential bidding war for Metsera, a small company with 100 employees and promising drugs, is occurring, highlighting the importance of the weight loss area to both Pfizer and Novo Nordisk [2] - Novo Nordisk views Metsera's pipeline of drugs as complementary to its own, particularly a lead asset entering phase three, as well as other assets with promising monthly dosing, efficacy, safety and tolerability [2][6] - Novo Nordisk increased its bid for Metsera from $9 billion to $10 billion, indicating a strong interest in acquiring the company's assets [7] - The acquisition strategy is driven by the need to address the unmet needs of hundreds of millions of patients with obesity, supplementing in-house development with external assets [3][4] Novo Nordisk's Strategy & Market Vision - Novo Nordisk aims to treat hundreds of millions of patients with obesity, emphasizing the need for multiple products to address this unmet need [3] - Novo Nordisk focuses on addressing the unmet needs of patients and developing assets for a long-term sustainable future, covering individual needs of people suffering from diabetes and obesity [8][9] - Novo Nordisk aims to expand the obesity treatment market, providing affordable access to more patients, noting that current access only reaches 3-4 million out of 100 million affected individuals [15] - Novo Nordisk wants to sustain its leadership in the obesity treatment market and expand access to affordable treatments for more patients [14][15] Negotiations & Future Outlook - Novo Nordisk is engaged in constructive dialogue with the Trump administration to provide affordable access to drugs in the US [10] - Novo Nordisk anticipates significant growth in the weight loss market, but does not provide specific estimates [11] - Novo Nordisk views the market as a free market space where the value of the drug determines the price between buyer and seller [17][18]

Key Products & Market Performance - Tzepide and Mjaro (Zepbound) achieved market leadership in the US for both diabetes and obesity, driven by strong international performance [2] - Mangaro rollout in China, Brazil, and India indicates strong global demand [3] - Oral pill orforglipron is completing Phase 3 program with submission in Q4, aiming for broad global rollout [4][6] Pipeline & Clinical Trials - Oral pill offers a less intrusive alternative to injections, potentially appealing to those reaching their weight target [8] - Retatrutide, a triple-acting agent, shows promise for even greater weight loss than Zepbound or Mounjaro, with initial study focused on knee pain [10] - Studies are exploring the effects of weight loss drugs on inflammation, chronic knee pain, and addictive properties in the brain [11][12] Strategic Outlook - The company anticipates continued FDA approvals, supported by user fees, despite potential government shutdowns [7] - The company has built a head inventory to introduce orforglipron around the world [8] - The company is exploring additional indications beyond weight loss, such as knee pain and back pain, targeting a larger patient population [9][10]

GLP-1 Drugs & Market Dynamics - GLP-1 drugs are considered potential "miracle drugs" with numerous applications, but their high cost is a significant concern [1] - The market is actively discussing and evaluating GLP-1s, with much more data expected to be released [2] Medicare & Affordability - There are ongoing considerations regarding making GLP-1s available for weight loss under Medicare, weighing the upfront costs against potential long-term health benefits [1] - Affordability remains a key question: "Can we afford it or can we afford not to do it?" [1] Drug Price Negotiation & IRA - One GLP-1 drug is slated for price negotiation in 2027 under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) [3] - The IRA aims to allow the government to negotiate drug prices for drugs that have been patented long enough for companies to recoup their investment [4] Government Initiatives & Pricing - The administration aims to ensure that 95% of all drugs in America will be at pricing that reflects fair value by the end of the president's term [7] - The team is deeply involved in understanding drug pricing mechanisms to ensure prices align with the value provided [6]

Drug Efficacy & User Experience - Mounjaro is presented as highly effective, described as a superior version of Ozempic [1] - Users report significant weight loss, in the range of 50-60 lbs (approximately 22.7-27.2 kg) within a year, with minimal lifestyle changes [1] - The drug is also reported to aid in nicotine cessation, with users experiencing no relapse [1] Market Perception & Political Commentary - The report includes a commentary from a political figure (TRUMP) on Ozempic, referred to as the "fat drug," with skepticism about its effectiveness based on anecdotal observations [1]

Core Insights - An experimental GLP-1 pill named orforglipron has shown significant weight loss results in clinical trials without requiring weekly injections [1] Group 1 - The clinical trial results indicate that orforglipron promotes substantial weight loss [1]