Novo Nordisk announced quarterly financial results on Wednesday that exceeded expectations, with sales of its weight loss drug Wegovy far surpassing market forecasts.

After a tumultuous year during which its performance lagged behind that of its American competitor, Eli Lilly, this Danish weight-loss drug manufacturer is seeking to regain its growth momentum.

The company's weight loss drug, Wegovy, exceeded expectations in its third-quarter sales, reaching 5.39 billion Danish kroner (approximately 810 million US dollars), a 53% increase from the second quarter, and surpassed the company's own market forecast of 4.62 billion Danish kroner.

Novo Nordisk has also raised its forecast for adjusted sales and adjusted operating profit in 2026 to the range of "a decrease of 2% to an increase of 2%" (calculated at a fixed exchange rate); previously, the company had anticipated that these two indicators would decline by 0% to 6%. This is the third time the company has raised its annual performance guidance.

The company's adjusted operating profit for the third quarter was 31.72 billion Danish kroner, higher than analysts' previous forecast of 28.39 billion Danish kroner, and represented a 27% increase compared to the same period last year when calculated using a fixed exchange rate. The adjusted sales amount was 79.2 billion Danish kroner, compared to the previously expected 73.22 billion Danish kroner.

Novo Nordisk's CEO, Mike Doustdar, stated in a statement: "The growth is mainly due to our portfolio of obesity products; Wegovy continues to gain market acceptance in the United States, and its initial performance in international markets is also very encouraging."