Novo Nordisk, the maker of popular weight loss medications Ozempic and Wegovy, has significantly revised down its revenue forecast for 2026. The Danish pharmaceutical giant now expects sales to fall between 5% and 13% this year, a sharp decline from double-digit gains in recent years.
The company's chief executive, Mike Doustdar, attributed the downward revision to a "painful" push by former US President Donald Trump to lower weight loss drug prices. The pressure, combined with rising competition and the loss of important patent protections, particularly for semaglutide, the main ingredient in Novo's obesity and diabetes medications.
The US price cuts, agreed upon with the Trump administration, have slashed the average price of Ozempic from over $1,000 per month to $350. While this is a blow to Novo's top line, Doustdar hopes that the "painful" impact will be an investment for the company's future, leading to higher volumes of obesity and diabetes drugs sold in the coming years.
Novo's decision to keep patent protection for semaglutide in Europe and Japan until 2033 and in the US until 2032 is seen as a strategic move to maintain its competitive edge. However, this will likely allow generic drugmakers to make cheaper versions of Novo's medications, further pressuring sales.
In contrast, Eli Lilly, a US-based pharmaceutical company, has forecast stronger-than-expected sales and profit growth for 2026, despite the pressure on US weight loss drug prices. Lilly's Mounjaro jab, which leads to greater weight loss in clinical studies, is seen as a key driver of its growth prospects.
GSK, Britain's second-largest drugmaker, also reported a downgrade to its revenue forecast for 2026, citing factors such as the Trump administration's push for lower prescription medicine prices and increased competition. However, GSK still maintains its £40bn-plus sales target by 2031 and has outlined plans to be more agile in its product development pipeline.
Overall, Novo Nordisk's revised forecast highlights the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies under pressure from pricing pressures, patent expirations, and rising competition. While some companies are adapting to these changes, others may struggle to maintain their market share.
The company's chief executive, Mike Doustdar, attributed the downward revision to a "painful" push by former US President Donald Trump to lower weight loss drug prices. The pressure, combined with rising competition and the loss of important patent protections, particularly for semaglutide, the main ingredient in Novo's obesity and diabetes medications.
The US price cuts, agreed upon with the Trump administration, have slashed the average price of Ozempic from over $1,000 per month to $350. While this is a blow to Novo's top line, Doustdar hopes that the "painful" impact will be an investment for the company's future, leading to higher volumes of obesity and diabetes drugs sold in the coming years.
Novo's decision to keep patent protection for semaglutide in Europe and Japan until 2033 and in the US until 2032 is seen as a strategic move to maintain its competitive edge. However, this will likely allow generic drugmakers to make cheaper versions of Novo's medications, further pressuring sales.
In contrast, Eli Lilly, a US-based pharmaceutical company, has forecast stronger-than-expected sales and profit growth for 2026, despite the pressure on US weight loss drug prices. Lilly's Mounjaro jab, which leads to greater weight loss in clinical studies, is seen as a key driver of its growth prospects.
GSK, Britain's second-largest drugmaker, also reported a downgrade to its revenue forecast for 2026, citing factors such as the Trump administration's push for lower prescription medicine prices and increased competition. However, GSK still maintains its £40bn-plus sales target by 2031 and has outlined plans to be more agile in its product development pipeline.
Overall, Novo Nordisk's revised forecast highlights the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies under pressure from pricing pressures, patent expirations, and rising competition. While some companies are adapting to these changes, others may struggle to maintain their market share.
meanwhile Eli Lilly is all "haha we're still raking it in 
and GSK's just like "nah I got this £40bn target to hit 
what about you Novo? 
"
. This downward revision for Novo Nordisk makes me think that the US government's push to lower weight loss drug prices has been way too aggressive 
.
. It just goes to show that there are still innovators out there who can adapt to changing market conditions 
. The key will be for them (and others) to find ways to maintain their competitive edge without sacrificing profits 
. Can we find a way to make it work? Only time (and future forecast revisions) will tell 
. Those price cuts by Trump were a big hit to them, but hopefully it's gonna pay off in the long run 
. GSK is still looking good, hope they can keep up that £40bn sales target 
. This whole thing just highlights how tough it is for pharma companies to navigate these changes...
. We should keep an eye on Novo Nordisk and see if they actually deliver on their revised forecast... or if they just pull some strings behind the scenes 
Eli lilly and gsk are still doing alright tho 
maybe pharma companies can find ways to balance profits with helping people manage their weight 
We drove all the way to Yellowstone National Park and it was absolutely breathtaking! The geysers, the hot springs, the wildlife... I even spotted a bear from like 500 yards away 
And you know what's crazy? We spent more time trying to find decent Wi-Fi than actually exploring the park lol. Anyway, back to Novo Nordisk and their revenue forecast... seems like they're taking a bit of a hit, but I guess it's all about adapting and being smart about patent protection 
Novo Nordisk's numbers are tanking, and I'm not surprised 
The whole Ozempic price-cutting thing was gonna be a game-changer for the industry 
, and GSK's got some solid plans in place 
or they'll be left in the dust 
... and now generic versions are coming out, thats like, the worst news for them 
. Anyways, Eli Lilly and GSK are doing alright for themselves, so maybe Novo should just step up its game or something 
. Not like it's gonna make a huge difference now 
.
. But now, it's like every Tom, Dick, and Harry is churning out new ones left and right 
. Trump's price cuts for Ozempic? That's gotta hurt 
. I'm not so sure about that 
. Maybe it's time for some new blood at Novo Nordisk 
?
. Keeping patent protection in Europe, Japan, and the US will definitely help them maintain their competitive edge 
. It's just a shame that generic drugmakers are going to be able to make cheaper versions of Novo's meds soon 
! And GSK's plans to be more agile with product development? That sounds like a solid strategy 
. The US price cuts are definitely a blow, especially with that massive drop in Ozempic prices from $1k/month to $350 
I'm intrigued to see how it'll compete with Novo's meds on the market. And GSK still has its sights set on £40bn-plus sales by 2031, so maybe they're better equipped to deal with the pressure than Novo?