Shortly before the turn of the year, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gave Novo Nordisk an important “Christmas present”: the approval of the Wegovy pill.
• Wegovy pill approved by FDA on December 22nd
• Study results indicate comparable weight loss
• Outlook 2026: US market launch is planned for early January; a decision from the EMA is still pending
The roadmap for 2026: USA as a test market
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk ended the pre-holiday trading week with a bang. The trigger was the news that the FDA had approved the Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide 25 mg), the world’s first GLP-1 tablet for long-term weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction. This brings the effectiveness of daily intake into the range of the well-known weekly injection.
The market launch in the USA is scheduled to take place at the beginning of January 2026. Novo Nordisk relies on strategic pricing: with a starting price of $149 per month for cash payers (starter dose), the company is specifically attacking the market. However, it remains to be seen whether this plan will lead to a lasting trend reversal. Commercial success will largely depend on whether the company can keep production capacity stable enough to meet expected mass demand without the bottlenecks of previous years.
Competition and regulatory hurdles for Novo Nordisk
While Novo Nordisk now enjoys a first-mover advantage in the USA, the competition is not sleeping. US rival Eli Lilly is also working on an oral solution (orforglipron), for which an FDA decision is expected in the first half of 2026. Since this drug does not require strict sobriety requirements when taking it, it remains to be seen who will have the upper hand in the tough duel for market leadership.
The focus is also on Europe. Applications for the Wegovy pill to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) were already submitted in the second half of 2025. It remains to be seen whether the European authorities will follow the US example in a timely manner and grant approval in 2026.
Analyst check of the Novo Nordisk share: Between undervaluation and skepticism
The mood among analysts remains varied at the turn of the year. While some experts view the stock as undervalued after the massive price decline in 2025, others urge caution. The current TipRanks data for ADR stocks traded on the NYSE shows mixed expectations with 4 “Buy”, 4 “Hold” and one “Sell” rating. The closing price of the ADRs was $52.40 on Friday, while the average price target of $55.31 currently only signals a moderate upside potential of around 5.5 percent.
On the home stock exchange in Copenhagen, the paper recently closed at DKK 331.55, well above the level before the approval announcement (+9.24 percent). Nevertheless, the stock remains far from its all-time high of DKK 675.20, which was set in early 2024. Given the impending US launch at the beginning of January 2026, it remains to be seen whether the new sales figures will be enough to sustainably regain investor confidence and complete the bottoming out.
Editorial team finanzen.net
This text is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an investment recommendation. finanzen.net GmbH excludes any claims for recourse.
By the way: Eli Lilly and other US stocks can even be traded on finanzen.net ZERO until 11 p.m. (without order fees, plus spreads). Open a depot now for free and secure a new customer bonus!
Selected leverage products on Eli Lilly
With knock-outs, speculative investors can participate disproportionately in price movements. Simply select the lever you want and we will show you suitable open-end products on Eli Lilly
The leverage must be between 2 and 20
Advertising