Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar warned on Tuesday that the company will encounter near-term headwinds in its international markets during 2026. Competition is intensifying after loss of market exclusivity for key GLP-1 products in several European and Asia-Pacific countries, including the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, where generic and biosimilar entrants are expected to capture up to 15–20% of volume by mid-year. Doustdar indicated that these pressures could slow overall volume growth in non-U.S. markets from 30% year-on-year in 2025 to around 10–12% in 2026, potentially shaving 3–4 percentage points off total revenue growth.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that its preliminary safety review of GLP-1 receptor agonists—used for weight management and type 2 diabetes—has not identified a clear association with suicidal thoughts or actions. The agency examined over 300 adverse event reports submitted to its Adverse Event Reporting System, as well as data from four large outcome trials involving more than 20,000 patients. While current prescribing information for Novo Nordisk’s semaglutide-based products already includes warnings about mood changes, the FDA’s meta-analysis and ongoing Sentinel System review aim to provide definitive guidance. Officials emphasized that the number of reported psychiatric events remains low in both treatment and control groups, but they will issue final recommendations once the full review is complete.

In January 2026 Novo Nordisk introduced the first FDA-approved oral formulation of Wegovy (semaglutide), complementing its established weekly injection. Within four weeks of launch, pharmacies reported filling over 15,000 prescriptions for the oral pill, representing nearly 25% of total new GLP-1 volume in the obesity segment. Telehealth platform partnerships contributed to rapid patient access, and early surveys indicate that 60% of prescribers view the daily oral option as improving long-term adherence. Management expects the oral launch to boost global GLP-1 revenue by approximately DKK 4–5 billion in 2026, reinforcing the company’s leadership in chronic weight management therapies.