Novo Nordisk's sales increased by 16% in Danish kroner and by 18% at constant exchange rates to DKK 154.9 billion in the first six months of 2025
Bagsværd, Denmark, 6 August 2025 - Financial report for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025
- Operating profit increased by 25% in Danish kroner and 29% at constant exchange rates (CER) to DKK 72.2 billion.
- Sales in US Operations increased by 16% in Danish kroner (17% at CER). Sales in the US were positively impacted by gross-to-net sales adjustments related to prior years, including an adjustment related to the 340B provision of around DKK 3 billion in the second quarter of 2025. Sales in International Operations increased by 16% in Danish kroner (19% at CER).
- Sales within Diabetes and Obesity care increased by 16% in Danish kroner to DKK 145.4 billion (18% at CER), mainly driven by Obesity care growth of 56% in Danish kroner to DKK 38.8 billion (58% at CER) and GLP-1 diabetes sales growing 8% in Danish kroner (10% at CER). Rare disease sales increased by 14% measured in Danish kroner (15% at CER).
- Within R&D, Novo Nordisk will advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 development in weight management based on completed clinical studies during the first quarter of 2025. Further, within obesity, REDEFINE 11 has been initiated to investigate further the potential efficacy and safety of CagriSema, and semaglutide 7.2 mg (a higher dose of Wegovy®) has been submitted to the EU regulatory authorities.
- For the 2025 outlook, sales growth is now expected to be 8-14% at CER, and operating profit growth is now expected to be 10-16% at CER. Sales and operating profit growth reported in Danish kroner is now expected to be 3 and 5 percentage points lower than at CER, respectively. The lowered sales outlook for 2025 is driven by lower growth expectations for the second half of 2025, reflecting the persistent use of compounded GLP-1s, slower-than-expected market expansion and competition. The outlook is related to lower growth expectations for Wegovy® in the US obesity market, for Ozempic® in the US GLP-1 diabetes market as well as for Wegovy® in select IO markets. Novo Nordisk continues the global rollout of Wegovy® to more markets and invests in commercial activities towards driving market penetration for both Wegovy® and Ozempic®.
- In July, Novo Nordisk announced that Maziar Mike Doustdar will succeed Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen as president and chief executive officer. Further, Novo Nordisk announced that it has decided to consolidate its research and development areas under the leadership of Martin Holst Lange. Lastly, Emil Kongshøj Larsen will succeed Mike Doustdar as executive vice president, International Operations. All changes are effective 7 August.
| PROFIT AND LOSS | H1 2025 | H1 2024 | Growth
as reported | Growth
at CER* |
| DKK million | | | | |
| Net sales | 154,944 | 133,409 | 16% | 18% |
| Operating profit | 72,240 | 57,780 | 25% | 29% |
| | | | | |
| Net profit | 55,537 | 45,457 | 22% | N/A |
| Diluted earnings per share (in DKK) | 12.49 | 10.17 | 23% | N/A |
| * CER: Constant exchange rates (average 2024). | | | | |
Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and CEO: "While delivering 18% sales growth in the first half of 2025, we have lowered our full-year outlook due to lower growth expectations for our GLP-1 treatments in the second half of 2025. As a result, we are taking measures to sharpen our commercial execution further, and ensure efficiencies in our cost base while continuing to invest in future growth. With more than one billion people living with obesity globally, including more than 100 million living in the US, and only a few million on treatment, I am confident that under Mike Doustdar's leadership, Novo Nordisk will maximise the significant growth opportunities, supported by a strong product portfolio and future pipeline".
On 6 August 2025 at 13.00 CET, corresponding to 07.00 am EST, an earnings call will be held. Investors will be able to listen in via a link on novonordisk.com, which can be found under 'Investors' (the contents of the company's website do not form a part of this Form 6-K).
About Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat serious chronic diseases built upon our heritage in diabetes. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 78,400 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO). For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube.
| Contacts for further information | |
| Media: | |
Ambre James-Brown
+45 3079 9289
abmo@novonordisk.com
| Liz Skrbkova (US)
+1 609 917 0632
lzsk@novonordisk.com |
| | |
| Investors: | |
Jacob Martin Wiborg Rode
+45 3075 5956
jrde@novonordisk.com | Sina Meyer
+45 3079 6656
azey@novonordisk.com |
Max Ung
+45 3077 6414
mxun@novonordisk.com |
Alex Bruce
+45 3444 2613
axeu@novonordisk.com |
Christoffer Sho Togo Tullin
+45 3079 1471
cftu@novonordisk.com |
Frederik Taylor Pitter (US)
+1 609 613 0568
fptr@novonordisk.com |
Company announcement No 20 / 2025
