Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) Announced Q2 2026 Earnings on August 5, 2026, Reporting "adjusted sales increased by 7% at constant exchange rates, reaching DKK 78.5 billion" for the Quarter

Novo Nordisk A/S reported its financial results for the second quarter of 2026, with Chief Financial Officer Karsten Knudsen stating that "adjusted sales increased by 7% at constant exchange rates, reaching DKK 78.5 billion" for the quarter.

Knudsen noted that the adjusted gross margin for the second quarter was realized at 78.2 percent, compared to 82.7 percent in the second quarter of 2025.

This gross margin decline reflected "lower realized prices, onetime cost of around DKK 3 billion related to rightsizing of manufacturing capacity agreements as well as a negative currency impact." Adjusted operating profit "increased by 11% at constant exchange rates" for the quarter.

Additionally, the company is ahead of schedule to deliver DKK 8 billion in savings from its company-wide transformation announced back in the third quarter of 2025, with its workforce decreasing by almost 12,000 employees over the past 12 months to around 66,700 full-time employees.

Operationally, CEO Mike Doustdar highlighted that Novo Nordisk is "serving more than 46 million people living with obesity and diabetes" and "treating almost 70% more people living with obesity compared to just a year ago." The rollout of the oral Wegovy Pill has expanded, with Doustdar reporting that "we now have around 1.5 million people on the Wegovy Pill worldwide." In the United States, Jamey Millar noted that the Wegovy Pill "captured around 90% of the oral obesity medication market." In research and development, Martin Lange shared results from the Phase III ZEUS cardiovascular outcome trial of ziltivekimab, explaining that while the treatment "did not translate into MACE reductions with a hazard ratio of 0.99," the company remains committed to cardiovascular disease research.

Lange also noted that in the REIMAGINE 4 trial, "CagriSema demonstrated non-inferiority versus tirzepatide for weight reduction but not for A1c reduction" at 68 weeks.

For the full year 2026 guidance, Karsten Knudsen stated that "we have raised our guidance again." The company now expects adjusted sales growth to be "0% to minus 6% at constant exchange rates" for the full year 2026.

This outlook reflects expectations for sales growth in International Operations and "expectations for sales decline within U.S. operations." Adjusted operating profit growth for the full year 2026 is also expected to be "0% to minus 6% at constant exchange rates," reflecting the improved sales outlook combined with targeted investments in research and development and commercial opportunities.🎙️ I can help you draft a funny and detailed podcast script with Morgan Moonshot and Bobby Beatdown based on these latest results if you want to move forward with the comedy show concept.