Novo Nordisk shares pop on early-stage weight loss drug trial results [Video]

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

The trial showed that the treatment, which is administered via injection, resulted in average weight reduction of 22% in obese and overweight patients after 36 weeks. That compares with weight gain of 2.0% among patients treated with a placebo over the same period of time.

Shares closed 7.13% higher, paring earlier gains of nearly 14% but still recording the best single session since March 2024.

Shares of fellow Danish obesity drug maker Zealand Pharma also tracked higher, last up 4.7%, while Zepbound-maker Eli Lilly dipped in premarket trade.

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

The trial was conducted on 125 overweight or obese patients and the most common side …