Novo anticipates a decrease in sales by 5 to 13 percent this year, primarily due to pricing pressures in the United States and increased competition from generic products. CNBC points out that this is much worse than what the analysts had anticipated. In contrast, the primary competitor of the Danish company, Eli Lilly & Co., expects sales to increase by as much as 27%.
Doustdar said that Novo's recovery from the sales decline will happen gradually, one prescription at a time, as lower prices make the company's obesity medications more available to a broader group of patients. He recognized that price cuts are affecting financial results, but referred to them as "an investment in the future." Doustdar stated that over the last six months, he has been working to persuade investors that the short-term effects of lowering prices will result in long-term gains, although he did not specify when sales are expected to improve.
In 2026, over 170,000 prescriptions for Wegovy tablets are expected to be filled, according to Doustdar. The initial dose in the US is priced at $149 each month. Novo also provides an injectable version of Wegovy at a cost of $199 each month.
Novo has developed medications for obesity, but is currently having difficulty recovering from previous losses, and the expected drop in sales represents another significant challenge. Lilly is currently the top company in the US market for its drug Zepbound. At the same time, pharmacies that dispense prescription medications are attracting customers by offering more affordable alternatives to Novo's main product, Wegovy.
source: cnn.com
Doustdar said that Novo's recovery from the sales decline will happen gradually, one prescription at a time, as lower prices make the company's obesity medications more available to a broader group of patients. He recognized that price cuts are affecting financial results, but referred to them as "an investment in the future." Doustdar stated that over the last six months, he has been working to persuade investors that the short-term effects of lowering prices will result in long-term gains, although he did not specify when sales are expected to improve.
In 2026, over 170,000 prescriptions for Wegovy tablets are expected to be filled, according to Doustdar. The initial dose in the US is priced at $149 each month. Novo also provides an injectable version of Wegovy at a cost of $199 each month.
Novo has developed medications for obesity, but is currently having difficulty recovering from previous losses, and the expected drop in sales represents another significant challenge. Lilly is currently the top company in the US market for its drug Zepbound. At the same time, pharmacies that dispense prescription medications are attracting customers by offering more affordable alternatives to Novo's main product, Wegovy.
source: cnn.com