The Danish pharmaceutical company’s blockbuster Wegovy weight-loss drug just missed sales expectations in the fourth quarter despite more than doubling on the year.

Novo Nordisk said on Wednesday it plan to file its experimental next-generation obesity drug CagriSema for regulatory approval during the first quarter of next year, slightly later than its previous expectation to file towards end-2025.

Danish pharmaceutical behemoth Novo Nordisk reported better-than-expected net profit in the fourth quarter, amid soaring demand for its Wegovy obesity drugs.

Novo Nordisk emissions grew 23% in 2024, the company said on Wednesday, and will keep rising through the end of the decade as it boosts production of blockbuster obesity drug Wegovy.

In fact, Novo Nordisk recently reported positive results for one of its anti-obesity candidates that puts its current best-selling drug in this area, Wegovy, to shame. Let's look deeper into these results and what they could mean for investors.

Novo Nordisk A/S investors got a much-needed boost from last week’s trial results for an experimental weight-loss shot. But there’s still a long way to go to claw back the declines of the past six months.

Geographically, Novo Nordisk posted a 30% sales increase in North America, benefiting from the U.S. market’s strong demand and pricing adjustments. International operations also grew, though at a slower pace of 17% in Danish kroner.

The company predicted operating profit for 2025 to climb between 19% and 27%, compared to growth of 26% last year.