Novo's oral Wegovy benefits those with recent weight gain the most: study

Novo Nordisk's weight loss drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, have become so popular in the United States that they are reshaping economic forecasts not just in the United States, but across the entire Danish economy. The Danish central bank, Danmarks Nationalbank, has doubled its growth forecast for the nation, attributing the surge in growth to Novo Nordisk's success in the U.S. market.

According to the bank's special report, the pharmaceutical industry in Denmark saw "extraordinary" growth in the first half of 2026, with a significant portion of production now taking place abroad under Danish ownership. This growth is primarily driven by Novo Nordisk's sales and production in the U.S., facilitated by the country's agreement with the U.S. administration. This agreement provides access to a larger patient base through public health insurance schemes, including Medicare patients and TrumpRx customers.

The White House had secured 'advanced most-favored nation' pricing from Novo, which means lower prices for Medicare patients and those covered by TrumpRx. This cost reduction, along with Novo Nordisk's approval of Wegovy by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has significantly boosted the company's growth.

Despite the massive demand for Novo Nordisk's products and production, the Danish economy isn't fully benefiting from this growth. The Nationalbank's Governor, Christian Kettel Thomsen, noted that the Danish economy has defied global turmoil, with strong GDP growth expected this year. However, this growth comes from production abroad, which only draws on Danish labor and capital to a limited extent.

Furthermore, Novo Nordisk's agreement with the U.S. administration has led to a reduction in the selling price of selected weight-loss and diabetes products, negatively impacting the terms of trade for Danish companies.