Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Pill Drives Sales Boom, Boosts 2026 Outlook Amid GLP-1 Competition

Novo Nordisk’s new weight-loss pill, Wegovy, is driving a sales surge, prompting the company to raise its full-year guidance. In its first earnings report since releasing the oral alternative to its injectable GLP-1 drug, Ozempic, Novo Nordisk reported strong first-quarter performance and an upgraded outlook for 2026.

In the first quarter of 2026, Novo Nordisk recorded 1.3 million prescriptions for its weight-loss pill in the U.S. alone. The company plans to expand the pill’s availability globally in the second half of 2026, significantly broadening its market reach.

"The strong Wegovy performance, combined with continued growth in International Operations, has led us to raise our 2026 guidance for both adjusted sales and adjusted operating profit."

Mike Doustdar, CEO of Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk also secured FDA approval in March for a high-dose version of Wegovy, designed for more dramatic weight loss. The company exceeded its own expectations in Q1, reporting a 32% increase in sales on a constant currency basis and a 65% rise in operating profit.

While adjusted figures showed a 4% decrease in sales and a 6% dip in operating profit, these results still outperformed the company’s projections. Novo Nordisk now forecasts adjusted sales and profit declines of 4% to 12% for the year, an improvement from its previous estimate of 5% to 13%.

The company’s shares rose by more than 5% following the earnings report. Novo Nordisk is optimistic that its oral GLP-1 offering will expand the market rather than cannibalize existing injectable users. CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC:

"It’s having not cannibalizations, but a synergetic effect."

Novo Nordisk’s stock has faced challenges over the past year, with shares slumping as competitors like Eli Lilly gained ground. Lilly’s shares have climbed steadily, fueled by the success of its weight-loss drugs, Zepbound and the recently launched oral pill, Foundayo.

Novo Nordisk was the first to market with Wegovy and its diabetes counterpart, Ozempic, but overwhelming demand led to production struggles. This created an opening for competitors, allowing Lilly to capture significant market share. In response, Novo Nordisk replaced its longtime CEO, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, with Mike Doustdar, Executive Vice President of International Operations, in August 2025.

Despite these challenges, Novo Nordisk remains focused on regaining momentum in the competitive GLP-1 weight-loss drug market.