NVO Receives FDA Approval for MASH Therapy: ETFs Expected to Benefit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 19 2025
0mins
Should l Buy NVO?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Wegovy Approval: Novo Nordisk's obesity drug, Wegovy, received accelerated FDA approval to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), marking it as the first GLP-1 class treatment for this liver condition.
Efficacy Results: The approval is based on the ESSENCE trial results, showing that 62.9% of participants on Wegovy achieved resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis, compared to 34.3% on placebo.
Market Impact: Following the announcement, Novo Nordisk's shares rose nearly 4%, and Wegovy is expected to significantly contribute to the company's revenue from MASH treatments.
ETF Exposure: Several exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have substantial holdings in Novo Nordisk, including Roundhill GLP-1 & Weight Loss ETF, Amplify Weight Loss Drug & Treatment ETF, and VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy NVO?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on NVO
Wall Street analysts forecast NVO stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 46.070
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
Current: 46.070
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
About NVO
Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company engaged in diabetes care. The Company is also engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Company operates through two business segments: diabetes and obesity care, and biopharmaceuticals. The Company's diabetes and obesity care segment covers insulin, GLP-1, other protein-related products, such as glucagon, protein-related delivery systems and needles, and oral anti-diabetic drugs. The Company's biopharmaceuticals segment covers the therapy areas of hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. The Company also offers Saxenda product to treat obesity. It offers a range of products, including NovoLog/NovoRapid; NovoLog Mix/NovoMix; Prandin/NovoNorm; NovoSeven; Norditropin, and Vagifem. As of December 31, 2016, it marketed its products in over 180 countries. Its regional structure consists of two commercial units: North America and International Operations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
SureNano Science Advances GEP-44 Therapy in Obesity Treatment
- Massive Market Potential: The global GLP-1 market is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2035, with SureNano Science advancing its GEP-44 triple agonist platform aimed at enhancing efficacy and patient adherence, thereby positioning itself in a rapidly growing pharmaceutical market.
- Innovative Therapy Development: GEP-44 demonstrated approximately 15% weight loss in preclinical studies, significantly outperforming traditional GLP-1 drugs at 9%, while avoiding common side effects like nausea, which could enhance long-term patient adherence.
- Delivery Technology Innovation: SureNano Science is exploring oral, sublingual, and intranasal delivery technologies to improve patient accessibility and adherence, a strategy that could create new commercial opportunities within the GLP-1 market.
- Strategic Expansion Opportunities: In addition to its core GLP-1 platform, SureNano Science is evaluating early-stage opportunities related to ibogaine, reflecting its strategic flexibility in diversifying therapeutic areas, potentially providing additional value for future growth.
See More
China Amasses World's Largest Crude Oil Stockpile
- Oil Reserve Scale: China added an average of 1.1 million barrels per day to its strategic reserves in 2025, bringing its total to approximately 360 million barrels by December 2025, closely approaching the U.S. reserves of nearly 414 million barrels, highlighting China's significant role in the global energy market.
- Impact on U.S. Relations: The increase in Chinese imports of Iranian crude could prompt the U.S. to impose a second round of sanctions on Sino-Iranian trade, escalating tensions between the two nations and potentially affecting the agenda of the upcoming high-level meeting.
- Market Dynamics Shift: According to Kpler, the completion of Middle Eastern cargo discharges has led to a rapid inventory drawdown, which may slow refining rates and further impact global oil price volatility, indicating a shift in market dynamics.
- Strategic Reserve Role: China's strategic petroleum reserves serve as a hedge against supply constraints and price volatility, particularly amid escalating tensions with the U.S. and sanctions, underscoring its strategic significance in global energy security.
See More
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Compete Intensely as Oral Weight Loss Drug Market Emerges
- Market Share Shift: Eli Lilly has captured a 60% share of the U.S. GLP-1 drug market, surpassing Novo Nordisk, indicating strong performance that is expected to continue driving revenue growth for the company.
- New Drug Approvals: Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy garnered 1.3 million prescriptions in its first quarter, achieving a 65% market share, while Lilly's Foundayo has treated over 20,000 patients since its April 9 launch, reflecting strong demand for oral medications.
- Sales Growth Potential: Novo's oral Wegovy benefits from familiarity as a pill version of its injectable drug, while Lilly's Foundayo may attract more patients due to its convenience of no dietary restrictions, indicating significant future sales potential.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Although Novo Nordisk leads in the oral drug market, both companies are poised to benefit from the growing demand for weight loss medications, suggesting strong interest in oral formulations that could drive growth for both players.
See More
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Compete in Weight Loss Drug Market
- Market Share Shift: Eli Lilly has captured a 60% share of the U.S. market, surpassing Novo Nordisk, indicating strong performance in the weight loss drug sector, particularly as its Zepbound product outperformed Novo's Wegovy in head-to-head studies.
- New Drug Approvals: Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy received approval in December, generating 1.3 million prescriptions in its first quarter, capturing 65% of new prescriptions, while Eli Lilly's Foundayo launched on April 9 and has treated over 20,000 patients, reflecting strong demand for oral formulations.
- Revenue Growth: Eli Lilly's Zepbound saw an 80% revenue increase to $4 billion in the recent quarter, contributing to nearly $20 billion in total revenue, showcasing the product's popularity and profitability in the market.
- Competitive Advantage: Although Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy currently leads, Eli Lilly's Foundayo offers no dietary restrictions, potentially attracting more patients and indicating a competitive edge in convenience, suggesting that future market competition will intensify.
See More
Lilly Launches Foundayo with Soft Market Reception Compared to Wegovy
- Market Performance Comparison: Lilly's oral obesity drug Foundayo generated 7,335 prescriptions in its fourth week in the U.S. market, significantly lower than Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which recorded 28,515 prescriptions in the same period, indicating a weaker market reception that could impact Lilly's sales expectations.
- Sales Expectation Challenges: RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh noted that Foundayo's weekly prescription volume needs to rise significantly to 22,000 to meet Wall Street's consensus expectation of $160 million in second-quarter sales, making this target crucial for Lilly's market performance.
- Clinical Trial Results: In a late-stage trial, patients taking Foundayo lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%), compared to just 2.2 pounds (0.9%) in the placebo group, demonstrating the drug's potential in weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction, which may attract more patients.
- Market Sentiment Shift: With the rise of oral obesity medications, the FDA approved Foundayo in April, marking a significant innovation in this field; however, retail sentiment around Lilly shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral' in the past 24 hours, reflecting investor concerns about its market performance.
See More
Healthcare Stocks Decline Late Friday Afternoon
- Healthcare Sector Decline: Late Friday afternoon, the NYSE Healthcare Index experienced a decline, indicating a weakening market confidence in the healthcare sector, which may affect investors' short-term decisions.
- Market Sentiment Deterioration: The widespread drop in healthcare stocks could lead investors to reassess their portfolios in the healthcare sector, resulting in increased capital outflows and heightened market volatility.
- Significant Industry Impact: The decline in healthcare stocks may trigger a ripple effect on related companies' stock prices, impacting their financing capabilities and future growth expectations, especially in the current uncertain economic environment.
- Investor Focus Shift: As healthcare stocks weaken, investors may redirect their attention to other sectors in search of more attractive investment opportunities, potentially affecting capital inflows into the healthcare industry.
See More
SureNano Science Advances GEP-44 Therapy in Obesity Treatment
- Massive Market Potential: The global GLP-1 market is projected to exceed $200 billion by 2035, with SureNano Science advancing its GEP-44 triple agonist platform aimed at enhancing efficacy and patient adherence, thereby positioning itself in a rapidly growing pharmaceutical market.
- Innovative Therapy Development: GEP-44 demonstrated approximately 15% weight loss in preclinical studies, significantly outperforming traditional GLP-1 drugs at 9%, while avoiding common side effects like nausea, which could enhance long-term patient adherence.
- Delivery Technology Innovation: SureNano Science is exploring oral, sublingual, and intranasal delivery technologies to improve patient accessibility and adherence, a strategy that could create new commercial opportunities within the GLP-1 market.
- Strategic Expansion Opportunities: In addition to its core GLP-1 platform, SureNano Science is evaluating early-stage opportunities related to ibogaine, reflecting its strategic flexibility in diversifying therapeutic areas, potentially providing additional value for future growth.
See More
China Amasses World's Largest Crude Oil Stockpile
- Oil Reserve Scale: China added an average of 1.1 million barrels per day to its strategic reserves in 2025, bringing its total to approximately 360 million barrels by December 2025, closely approaching the U.S. reserves of nearly 414 million barrels, highlighting China's significant role in the global energy market.
- Impact on U.S. Relations: The increase in Chinese imports of Iranian crude could prompt the U.S. to impose a second round of sanctions on Sino-Iranian trade, escalating tensions between the two nations and potentially affecting the agenda of the upcoming high-level meeting.
- Market Dynamics Shift: According to Kpler, the completion of Middle Eastern cargo discharges has led to a rapid inventory drawdown, which may slow refining rates and further impact global oil price volatility, indicating a shift in market dynamics.
- Strategic Reserve Role: China's strategic petroleum reserves serve as a hedge against supply constraints and price volatility, particularly amid escalating tensions with the U.S. and sanctions, underscoring its strategic significance in global energy security.
See More
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Compete Intensely as Oral Weight Loss Drug Market Emerges
- Market Share Shift: Eli Lilly has captured a 60% share of the U.S. GLP-1 drug market, surpassing Novo Nordisk, indicating strong performance that is expected to continue driving revenue growth for the company.
- New Drug Approvals: Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy garnered 1.3 million prescriptions in its first quarter, achieving a 65% market share, while Lilly's Foundayo has treated over 20,000 patients since its April 9 launch, reflecting strong demand for oral medications.
- Sales Growth Potential: Novo's oral Wegovy benefits from familiarity as a pill version of its injectable drug, while Lilly's Foundayo may attract more patients due to its convenience of no dietary restrictions, indicating significant future sales potential.
- Optimistic Industry Outlook: Although Novo Nordisk leads in the oral drug market, both companies are poised to benefit from the growing demand for weight loss medications, suggesting strong interest in oral formulations that could drive growth for both players.
See More
Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk Compete in Weight Loss Drug Market
- Market Share Shift: Eli Lilly has captured a 60% share of the U.S. market, surpassing Novo Nordisk, indicating strong performance in the weight loss drug sector, particularly as its Zepbound product outperformed Novo's Wegovy in head-to-head studies.
- New Drug Approvals: Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy received approval in December, generating 1.3 million prescriptions in its first quarter, capturing 65% of new prescriptions, while Eli Lilly's Foundayo launched on April 9 and has treated over 20,000 patients, reflecting strong demand for oral formulations.
- Revenue Growth: Eli Lilly's Zepbound saw an 80% revenue increase to $4 billion in the recent quarter, contributing to nearly $20 billion in total revenue, showcasing the product's popularity and profitability in the market.
- Competitive Advantage: Although Novo Nordisk's oral Wegovy currently leads, Eli Lilly's Foundayo offers no dietary restrictions, potentially attracting more patients and indicating a competitive edge in convenience, suggesting that future market competition will intensify.
See More
Lilly Launches Foundayo with Soft Market Reception Compared to Wegovy
- Market Performance Comparison: Lilly's oral obesity drug Foundayo generated 7,335 prescriptions in its fourth week in the U.S. market, significantly lower than Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, which recorded 28,515 prescriptions in the same period, indicating a weaker market reception that could impact Lilly's sales expectations.
- Sales Expectation Challenges: RBC Capital Markets analyst Trung Huynh noted that Foundayo's weekly prescription volume needs to rise significantly to 22,000 to meet Wall Street's consensus expectation of $160 million in second-quarter sales, making this target crucial for Lilly's market performance.
- Clinical Trial Results: In a late-stage trial, patients taking Foundayo lost an average of 27.3 pounds (12.4%), compared to just 2.2 pounds (0.9%) in the placebo group, demonstrating the drug's potential in weight loss and cardiovascular risk reduction, which may attract more patients.
- Market Sentiment Shift: With the rise of oral obesity medications, the FDA approved Foundayo in April, marking a significant innovation in this field; however, retail sentiment around Lilly shifted from 'bullish' to 'neutral' in the past 24 hours, reflecting investor concerns about its market performance.
See More
Healthcare Stocks Decline Late Friday Afternoon
- Healthcare Sector Decline: Late Friday afternoon, the NYSE Healthcare Index experienced a decline, indicating a weakening market confidence in the healthcare sector, which may affect investors' short-term decisions.
- Market Sentiment Deterioration: The widespread drop in healthcare stocks could lead investors to reassess their portfolios in the healthcare sector, resulting in increased capital outflows and heightened market volatility.
- Significant Industry Impact: The decline in healthcare stocks may trigger a ripple effect on related companies' stock prices, impacting their financing capabilities and future growth expectations, especially in the current uncertain economic environment.
- Investor Focus Shift: As healthcare stocks weaken, investors may redirect their attention to other sectors in search of more attractive investment opportunities, potentially affecting capital inflows into the healthcare industry.
See More
