Novo Nordisk shares rose 10% following results from early-stage weight loss drug trials

shares Novo Nordisk Shares of the Danish pharmaceutical giant jumped on Friday after the Danish pharmaceutical giant reported positive early-stage results for its once-weekly obesity drug amicretin.

The trial showed that the treatment, administered by injection, resulted in an average weight reduction of 22% in obese patients and overweight after 36 weeks.

Shares were last up 10% at 11:43 a.m. London time, putting the stock on track for its biggest daily gain since August 2023. New Zealand Pharma It is also tracking higher, with the latter rising by 4.7%.

Amicretin targets the same gut hormone that Wegovy mimics, known as GLP-1, as well as a pancreatic hormone called amylin that affects hunger. Wegovy is Novo Nordisk’s flagship obesity drug while Ozempic is a diabetes treatment.

The trial was conducted in 125 overweight or obese patients, and the most common side effects were gastrointestinal, the vast majority of which were “mild to moderate severity.”

“We are very encouraged by the Phase 1b/2a subcutaneous results of amicritin in people who are overweight or obese,” Martin Lange, executive vice president of development at Novo Nordisk, said in a statement.

“The results seen in the trial support the weight reduction potential of this novel monomolecular GLP-1 compound and the amylin receptor agonist, amicretin, which we have previously seen with the oral formulation.”

Novo is also developing the Amicritin obesity treatment pill. Early stage trials Announced in September, it showed an average weight loss of 13.1% after 12 weeks. The company said at the time that the treatment was safe and acceptable for patients, but had mild to moderate side effects.

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