Novo Nordisk Receives FDA Approval for Awiqli Injection
The company states: "Novo Nordisk announced that the FDA has approved Awiqli injection 700 units/mL, the first and only once-weekly, long-acting basal insulin, indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycaemic control in adults living with type 2 diabetes. The approval offers the only once-weekly basal insulin option, providing a new treatment solution that fits different patient routines and preferences for adults living with type 2 diabetes. The approval is based on results from the ONWARDS phase 3a programme in type-2-diabetes for once-weekly Awiqli(R) injection, which comprises four randomised, active-controlled, treat-to-target trials in approximately 2,680 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, used in combination with a mealtime insulin or in combination with common oral anti-diabetic agents and/or GLP-1 receptor agonists. The clinical programme evaluated once-weekly Awiqli(R) vs daily basal insulin and demonstrated efficacy in the primary endpoint of HbA1c reduction across the ONWARDS pivotal clinical trial programme in adults with type 2 diabetes. Across ONWARDS trials, the safety profile of Awiqli(R) was overall consistent with the daily basal insulin class."
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Pharmaceutical Stocks in Focus: Investors are increasingly interested in pharmaceutical stocks as a stable investment option amid market uncertainty.
Market Volatility Impact: The sector is gaining attention due to its steady demand and resilient earnings, which are less affected by economic fluctuations.
- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices skyrocketed by 55% in March following Trump's threat to seize Iranian oil, marking the largest monthly gain ever, which pressures the U.S. economy and forces companies to adjust pricing strategies to cope with rising costs.
- Market Recovery Signal: Despite the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite experiencing their worst week of 2026, stock futures rose after Trump indicated “great progress” in negotiations with Iran, reflecting investor optimism about market recovery.
- TSA Employee Pay Restoration: Trump signed an executive order ensuring Transportation Security Administration employees will receive pay after Congress failed to reach a deal to end the government shutdown, alleviating traveler frustrations caused by long security wait times.
- AI Drug Development Partnership: Eli Lilly struck a $2.75 billion deal with Insilico Medicine to bring AI-developed drugs to market, enhancing Lilly's market confidence and potentially accelerating the application of AI in the pharmaceutical industry.
- Oil Price Watch: Market strategist Michele Schneider emphasizes that WTI crude oil prices must break above $100 per barrel to drive higher prices, as current levels have repeatedly failed to surpass this critical threshold, indicating market caution.
- Natural Gas Investment Opportunity: She believes that the recent fluctuation of natural gas prices around $280 to $290, now rising above $3, presents a good buying opportunity for investors, although she does not elaborate on the reasons.
- Rising Food Prices: Schneider notes that the increase in food and fertilizer prices is closely tied to energy prices, particularly as the DBA index shows a significant breakout in soft and agricultural commodities, suggesting potential inflationary pressures in the market.
- Stock Investment Opportunities: She highlights Novo Nordisk's recent FDA approval for insulin and Ulta Beauty's stock price drop from $700 to near $500, suggesting that these stocks may still represent good investment choices even in a recessionary environment.
- Drug Development Setback: Pfizer was forced to abandon its internally developed GLP-1 weight loss drug in April 2025, which significantly hampered its competitive position in the emerging drug niche, especially as competitors like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly reported revenue growth of 99% and 175% for their GLP-1 drugs, respectively.
- Rapid Strategic Shift: Less than a year after dropping its own drug, Pfizer quickly pivoted by acquiring a company with a promising GLP-1 candidate in November 2025, demonstrating its agility in the GLP-1 market despite looming patent expirations.
- Stable Market Position: Despite a 50% decline in value from its 2021 highs, Pfizer maintains a market capitalization of $150 billion, showcasing its resilience as an industry giant capable of navigating the typical fluctuations of the pharmaceutical sector.
- Long-Term Investment Potential: With a dividend yield of 6.2% and a payout ratio exceeding 100%, Pfizer's management has committed to maintaining its dividend, making it a potential consideration for long-term investors seeking stable returns from this industry leader.
- Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, presenting a significant growth opportunity for Viking Therapeutics and its VK2735 candidate, especially with the potential launch of an oral version.
- Clinical Trial Progress: The injectable version of VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version completed phase 2 trials last year with highly promising initial results, laying a solid foundation for future commercialization.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking could become a takeover target in the biotech sector, with acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current $4 billion market cap, reflecting strong market expectations for its future.
- Investment Risks and Opportunities: Viking's stock presents a binary risk, where the success or failure of VK2735 will directly impact its share price; despite the high risks, the potential rewards are equally substantial, necessitating careful position sizing by investors to navigate possible volatility.
- Significant Market Potential: The GLP-1 weight loss market is projected to reach annual sales of $100 billion by the next decade, providing Viking Therapeutics' VK2735 with substantial market opportunities, particularly with the promising results expected from its oral version's clinical trials.
- Critical Clinical Trial Phase: The injectable VK2735 is currently in phase 3 clinical trials, while the oral version's phase 2 trial completed last year with promising initial results, which will directly impact Viking's stock performance depending on the outcomes of these trials.
- Acquisition Potential: Should VK2735 achieve commercial viability, Viking's market cap of approximately $4 billion could attract acquisition offers potentially reaching three times its current valuation, highlighting its appeal as a biotech stock.
- Risks and Opportunities: While the outlook for VK2735 is optimistic, the stock carries significant volatility risks; Viking's shares once approached $100 but currently trade around $32, necessitating careful risk-reward assessment by investors.











