Novo Nordisk reports Wegovy pill sales 2.26bn kroner

Novo Nordisk’s 2.26 billion Danish kroner in first-quarter sales for its new Wegovy pill matters because it gave investors the first hard read on demand for the company’s oral obesity drug after its U.S. launch. The figure, disclosed with first-quarter results on May 6, was well above the 1.16 billion-kroner analyst consensus compiled by Reuters. Novo also raised its 2026 outlook the same day, citing stronger expectations for GLP-1 products. The result put fresh attention on whether an easier-to-take obesity treatment can broaden the market beyond injectable drugs. ### Why did this number stand out? Reuters’ consensus forecast for the Wegovy pill was 1.16 billion kroner, making Novo’s reported 2.26 billion kroner nearly double what analysts had expected. CNBC reported the pill’s first-quarter sales at 2.26 billion kroner, or about $353 million, in the first reporting period that included U.S. sales. (usnews.com) Novo Nordisk said in its first-quarter materials that Wegovy pill prescriptions reached about 1.3 million in the quarter and more than 2 million since launch. The company said that made it the strongest-ever GLP-1 volume launch in the United States, while also noting sales were affected by pre-launch pipeline fill with wholesalers and telehealth partners. (cnbc.com) ### When did the pill launch, and where is it selling now? Novo Nordisk launched the Wegovy pill in the United States on January 5, 2026, according to the company’s first-quarter disclosures. The first quarter of 2026 was therefore the first period in which investors could see reported sales from the oral obesity drug. (ebs.publicnow.com) The company said launches outside the United States are expected in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory decisions. That means the current sales figure reflects an early U.S.-only commercial rollout rather than a broader global launch. ### What else did Novo Nordisk report with the sales figure? Novo Nordisk reported first-quarter sales of 96.8 billion kroner on a reported basis, up 32% at constant exchange rates, CNBC said, while operating profit rose 65% to 59.6 billion kroner. (biospace.com) The company also narrowed its 2026 guidance, saying adjusted sales and operating profit are now expected to decline by 4% to 12% at constant exchange rates, compared with a previous expected decline of 5% to 13%. (ebs.publicnow.com) Reuters reported that the stronger-than-expected pill sales helped Novo beat first-quarter profit forecasts and lift its full-year outlook. That came as the Danish drugmaker has been trying to regain momentum in obesity medicines against Eli Lilly. ### Why are investors focused on a pill when Novo already sells injections? CNBC reported that investors are watching the pill’s trajectory because oral obesity drugs could widen the market. (cnbc.com) CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC that “the numbers with the pill speak for themselves,” and said the product had been well tolerated by patients. (usnews.com) Novo Nordisk’s own disclosures showed the launch reached large prescription volumes quickly, but the company also cautioned that first-quarter sales included some channel stocking before demand settled into a regular refill pattern. That distinction matters for reading the first quarter as a launch quarter rather than a steady-state sales run rate. ### What should readers watch next? (cnbc.com) August 5, 2026, is Novo Nordisk’s scheduled date for first-half 2026 results, according to its financial calendar. That report should give the next company update on whether Wegovy pill demand held up after the initial U.S. launch quarter. The second half of 2026 is also the window Novo Nordisk has given for the first launches of the Wegovy pill outside the United States, subject to regulatory decisions. (ebs.publicnow.com) Those launches, alongside the August results, are the next concrete milestones the company has identified. (novonordisk.com)