Novo Nordisk’s Late Stage Trial Could Be Just The Catalyst The Stock Needs

Finally, some good news for the company that’s been getting as much positive press lately as Prince Harry and Meaghan (this is a joke if you can’t tell).

Novo Nordisk… the Danish pharma giant, best known for helping half of Hollywood drop 100 pounds, just got a much-needed win after watching its stock fall 23% in the last month.

Rybelsus… the company’s oral diabetes medication… delivered a major win in a late-stage trial, showing it can reduce the risk of cardiovascular-related death, heart attacks, and strokes by 14% over four years. In drug trial terms, that’s the equivalent of hitting a game-winning three at the buzzer in March Madness (hence the name late-stage trial).

For those who don’t obsess over pharmaceuticals (normal people), Rybelsus is essentially Ozempic’s pill version. Both contain the active ingredient semaglutide, but instead of a weekly injection, Rybelsus comes in a much more user-friendly form… one that doesn’t involve stabbing yourself. And let’s face it, given the choice, most people would rather pop a pill than play human pincushion. Even Stephen Gough, Novo’s global chief medical officer, admitted, “We know not everybody wants an injection, whether it is painful or not, they want the option of an oral medication.” So… needles are scary. Pills are not. Got it. 

The latest trial tracked more than 9,600 adults aged 50 and up (basically the group most likely to care about heart health and still be active in Facebook comment sections). Over four years, 12% of those taking Rybelsus suffered a heart-related event, compared to 13.8% of those on a placebo. That 14% drop may not seem flashy, but it’s a meaningful reduction in risk… and in this industry, that moves the needle. More impressive is that Rybelsus lowered the rate of non-fatal heart attacks by 26%, a stat with real weight for both cardiologists and shareholders.

Now of course, Novo’s been leading the GLP-1 pack with Ozempic and Wegovy, but with Eli Lilly coming in hot with its own oral contenders (including orforglipron), it’s pretty clear the race for pill-based treatments is getting fierce.

But this latest Rybelsus data could pave the way for an expanded approval in the U.S. and Europe, giving Novo another stronghold in the diabetes and cardiovascular space. So if you’ve got shares, maybe hold off on panic selling and see how this plays out.

Stocks.News has positions in Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly mentioned in article.