07.20.18
Headquarters: Bagsvaerd, Denmark
twitter.com/novonordisk
www.novonordisk.com
Headcount: 42,682
Year Established: 1989
Revenues: $17,966 (0%)
Net Income: $6,133 (+1%)
R&D: $2,254 (-4%)
TOP SELLING DRUGS
It was a transitional year for diabetes giant Novo Nordisk. Financially speaking, 2017 was uneventful. Sales in diabetes care and obesity were up a modest 4%, dominated by Victoza, and Biopharmaceuticals declined 18% to $3.0 billion reflecting the impact of generic competition in the U.S. to its hormone replacement therapy Vagifem, and flat hemophilia sales.
For 2018, sales growth is expected to be 2-5% as Novoeight, N8-GP, and N9-GP should compensate for the potential losses of NovoSeven and Norditropin in the biopharmaceuticals segment, and Fiasp, Semaglutide, Saxenda, and Tresiba should compensate the potential losses of modern insulins in the diabetes segment.
Further, big wins have the potential to shake things up in the diabetes market. Ozempic won approval in the U.S., EU, and Japan for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. What’s more is that Ozempic recently demonstrated superiority over Merck’s diabetes flagship Januvia, surpassing Januvia at the 26-week mark, reducing HbA1C, an important measure of blood sugar control, and patients in the Ozempic arm lost more weight.
Additional approvals include an update to prescribing information for Tresiba in the U.S. to include cardiovascular outcomes for type 2 diabetes. Also, Victoza was approved in the U.S. and EU as the only type 2 diabetes treatment indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, an important milestone as cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in this patient population. Lastly, Fiasp was approved as a new fast-acting mealtime insulin for the treatment of diabetes.
Several collaborations aim to further Novo’s research efforts in diabetes and blood disorders. A license agreement to further develop reMYND’s ReS39 holds promise for NASH and the metabolic syndrome. Also, Novo Nordisk obtained an exclusive license to EpiDestiny’s sickle cell disease (SCD) program, EPI01, a disease-modifying therapy to increase HbF and interrupt SCD.
In corporate news, Novo Nordisk reached a $46.5 million resolution with the U.S. government regarding an investigation concerning sales and marketing practices for Victoza, resolving claims alleging it did not fully comply with communicating safety information.
This past January, Novo made an unsuccessful €2.6 billion bid to acquire Ablynx. Novo was hoping to combine Ablynx’s lead asset caplacizumab for a rare bleeding disorder, acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, with its existing hematology franchise.
Finally, recent rumors of plans to lay off as many as 3,000 employees and cut its long-term financial outlook, are unsubstantiated at press time, however the company is looking to cut costs in the face of pricing pressure in the U.S. A “savings plan” is expected to be made public with the company’s second-quarter announcement in August.
twitter.com/novonordisk
www.novonordisk.com
Headcount: 42,682
Year Established: 1989
Revenues: $17,966 (0%)
Net Income: $6,133 (+1%)
R&D: $2,254 (-4%)
TOP SELLING DRUGS
Drug | Indication | 2017 Sales | (+/-%) |
Victoza | diabetes | $3,727 | 16% |
NovoRapid | diabetes | $3,221 | 0% |
Levemir | diabetes | $2,271 | -17% |
NovoMix | diabetes | $1,650 | -2% |
Human | insulins diabetes | $1,620 | -9% |
NovoSeven | haemophilia | $1,481 | -3% |
It was a transitional year for diabetes giant Novo Nordisk. Financially speaking, 2017 was uneventful. Sales in diabetes care and obesity were up a modest 4%, dominated by Victoza, and Biopharmaceuticals declined 18% to $3.0 billion reflecting the impact of generic competition in the U.S. to its hormone replacement therapy Vagifem, and flat hemophilia sales.
For 2018, sales growth is expected to be 2-5% as Novoeight, N8-GP, and N9-GP should compensate for the potential losses of NovoSeven and Norditropin in the biopharmaceuticals segment, and Fiasp, Semaglutide, Saxenda, and Tresiba should compensate the potential losses of modern insulins in the diabetes segment.
Further, big wins have the potential to shake things up in the diabetes market. Ozempic won approval in the U.S., EU, and Japan for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. What’s more is that Ozempic recently demonstrated superiority over Merck’s diabetes flagship Januvia, surpassing Januvia at the 26-week mark, reducing HbA1C, an important measure of blood sugar control, and patients in the Ozempic arm lost more weight.
Additional approvals include an update to prescribing information for Tresiba in the U.S. to include cardiovascular outcomes for type 2 diabetes. Also, Victoza was approved in the U.S. and EU as the only type 2 diabetes treatment indicated to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, an important milestone as cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in this patient population. Lastly, Fiasp was approved as a new fast-acting mealtime insulin for the treatment of diabetes.
Several collaborations aim to further Novo’s research efforts in diabetes and blood disorders. A license agreement to further develop reMYND’s ReS39 holds promise for NASH and the metabolic syndrome. Also, Novo Nordisk obtained an exclusive license to EpiDestiny’s sickle cell disease (SCD) program, EPI01, a disease-modifying therapy to increase HbF and interrupt SCD.
In corporate news, Novo Nordisk reached a $46.5 million resolution with the U.S. government regarding an investigation concerning sales and marketing practices for Victoza, resolving claims alleging it did not fully comply with communicating safety information.
This past January, Novo made an unsuccessful €2.6 billion bid to acquire Ablynx. Novo was hoping to combine Ablynx’s lead asset caplacizumab for a rare bleeding disorder, acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, with its existing hematology franchise.
Finally, recent rumors of plans to lay off as many as 3,000 employees and cut its long-term financial outlook, are unsubstantiated at press time, however the company is looking to cut costs in the face of pricing pressure in the U.S. A “savings plan” is expected to be made public with the company’s second-quarter announcement in August.