Novo Nordisk announced that its clinical trial of Ozempic, aimed at treating kidney failure in diabetic patients, will be halted ahead of schedule after an interim analysis revealed that the treatment was successful.
Novo said the trial would be halted nearly a year early based on a recommendation from the independent data monitoring board overseeing the study.
An independent monitoring body can recommend stopping a trial early if there is clear evidence, based on interim analysis, that the drug will succeed or fail.
Novo’s U.S.-listed shares rose 2.5% in after-hours trading.
The Danish pharmaceutical company says the trial will test whether a widely used diabetes drug containing the active ingredient semaglutide can slow the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduce the risk of death from kidney and heart problems. He said that
Semaglutide is also the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s powerful weight loss drug Wigovy.
Barclays analyst Emily Field said in a note that the company’s decision supports the view that GLP-1 receptor agonists like Ozempic have “therapeutic benefits far beyond their intended purpose.” He said it was a thing.
Since the start of the year, Novo has ridden a wave of demand for its highly effective semaglutide-based diabetes and weight-loss drugs, transforming the company into a $315 billion powerhouse.
The company briefly dethroned luxury goods brand LVMH in September as Europe’s most valuable listed company, but in August a large-scale study found Wegovy had clear cardiovascular benefits. Since that announcement, the company’s stock price has increased about 17%.
Novo’s success has also led to an economic boom in Denmark, according to Danish economists, analysts and executives at the Novo Nordisk Foundation.
