NVO Receives FDA Approval for MASH Therapy: ETFs Expected to Benefit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 19 2025
0mins
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.
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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: 44.070
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
Current: 44.070
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.
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- Innovation-Driven Growth: The recent launch of Lilly's weight loss drug Zepbound and strong results from late-stage clinical trials indicate that the company's ongoing investment in innovation will bolster its market leadership, further solidifying its advantage in the weight loss sector.
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See More
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- Market Leadership: Eli Lilly currently holds a 60% share of the U.S. GLP-1 drug market, significantly surpassing former leader Novo Nordisk, demonstrating its strong competitive position in the rapidly growing weight loss drug sector.
- New Product Launch: Lilly received approval for its oral weight loss drug Foundayo in April, with early trends showing promising results, further enriching its weight loss portfolio and positioning the company advantageously in a market approaching $100 billion.
- Successful Clinical Trials: Recently, Lilly reported positive phase 3 trial data for its candidate retatrutide, which, if successful, will complement its existing oral and injectable drugs to create a comprehensive weight loss portfolio catering to patients with varying obesity levels.
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- High Revenue Dependency: Nearly 65% of Eli Lilly's revenue comes from its injectable GLP-1 drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound, indicating that any loss in market share could significantly affect the company's financial health and growth prospects.
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