Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy Drug Is Approved To Treat Liver Disease

The stock of Novo Nordisk (NVO) is up about 5% after the European pharmaceutical company’s
Wegovy weight-loss drug received regulatory approval in the U.S. to treat liver disease.

The Danish company says that it was granted approval for the treatment of advanced liver disease from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The approval makes Wegovy the first GLP-1 class of drug to be authorized for the treatment of advanced liver disease, which affects an estimated 5% of American adults.

The latest FDA approval also advances Wegovy’s use beyond diabetes and weight-loss treatments and introduces it to the metabolic disease market.

The approval follows a study indicating Wegovy’s effectiveness in reducing the risk of heart attacks, stroke, and death from cardiovascular disease.

The approval comes after the trial showed that Wegovy had “a statistically significant and superior improvement” in treating liver disease versus a placebo.

In the study, almost two-thirds (62.9%) of people treated with Wegovy achieved some improvement with no worsening of liver disease compared to 34% who were given a placebo.

A second phase of the liver disease study is expected in 2029.

Novo Nordisk says that Wegovy will be immediately available in the U.S. for the treatment of liver disease.

NVO stock has declined 40% this year to trade at $52.41 U.S. per share.