• Novo Nordisk reported a 29% rise in Q4 net profit, exceeding analyst expectations, as demand for its obesity drug Wegovy soared. The Danish pharmaceutical giant posted a full-year net profit increase of 21% to 100.99 billion Danish kroner ($3.98 billion), driven by strong North American and European sales. However, the company forecasts slower revenue growth in 2025, citing rising competition and pricing pressures in the obesity and diabetes markets.

• The company is racing against Eli Lilly to introduce the first weight loss pill to the U.S. market. CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen stated that Novo Nordisk aims to launch an oral obesity treatment before Eli Lilly's Orforglipron, with regulatory approval expected within months. While Wegovy sales doubled year-over-year, the company’s next-generation drug, CagriSema, fell short of expectations in recent trials, making the success of its oral pill even more crucial.