Novo Nordisk Option Alert: Aug 15 $80 Calls Sweep (53) near the Ask: 803 vs 7581 OI; Earnings 8/6 Before Open [est] 

Novo Nordisk Option Alert: Aug 15 $80 Calls Sweep (53) near the Ask: 803 @ $6.65 vs 7581 OI; Earnings 8/6 Before Open [est] Ref=$79.42

Novo Nordisk Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $75 Calls at the Bid: 600 vs 2301 OI

Novo Nordisk Option Alert: Jan, 2027 $75 Calls at the Bid: 600 @ $17.7 vs 2301 OI; Ref=$74.81

Novo Nordisk (NYSE:NVO) 주식

NOVO-NORDISK A/S-SPONS ADR

Novo Nordisk

With roughly one third of the global branded diabetes treatment market, Novo Nordisk is the leading provider of diabetes-care products in the world. Based in Denmark, the company manufactures and markets a variety of human and modern insulins, injectable diabetes treatments such as GLP-1 therapy, oral antidiabetic agents, and obesity treatments. Novo also has a biopharmaceutical segment (constituting less than 10% of revenue) that specializes in protein therapies for hemophilia and other disorders.

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한 미디어 행사에서 트럼프 대통령은 기자들에게 59%에서 90% 사이의 가격 인하를 목표로 하고 있다고 말하며 제약사들에게 30일의 시간을 주었다. 월가는 이 소식을 받아들였고, 행정명령이 발표된 날 주요 바이오제약 주식의 주가는 하락했지만 대부분의 업계 주식은 반등했다.트럼프의 행정명령으로 인해 반등에 그치지 않고 급등할 것으로 예상되는 제약주 3가지를 소개한다.

트럼프의 약가 인하로 수혜 입을 수 있는 제약주 3가지

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일라이 릴리(NYSE:LLY)의 마운자로(Mounjaro: &#39;젭바운드&#39;와 동일)가 72주간의 일대일 임상시험에서 노보 노디스크(NYSE:NVO)의 위고비(Wegovy) 대비 우수한 체중 감소 효과를 입증했다.

일라이 릴리의 마운자로, 노보 노디스크의 위고비보다 우수한 감량 효과 나타내

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일요일(11일) 도널드 트럼프 대통령은 트루스 소셜을 통해 처방약 가격 인하를 목표로 하는 미국 역사상 &#34;가장 중대한 행정명령&#34;에 서명할 계획이라고 발표했다.무슨 일 있었나: 트럼프 대통령은 월요일(12일) 오전 9시에 서명할 예정인 행정명령은 제약사가 미국 소비자에게 다른 국가에서 동일한 의약품에 대해 제공하는 최저 가격 이상을 청구하지 않도록 요구하는 &#34;최혜국대우&#34; 정책을 시행할 것이라고 했다.

트럼프의 처방약 가격 인하 행정명령으로 제약주 흔들···노보 노디스크, 화이자 및 존슨앤드존슨 프리마켓 하락세

Novo Nordisk AS

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Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVS#NYSE">NVS</a>) announced Thursday that it will advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 development <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">in weight management</a>.
Amycretin is developed for subcutaneous and oral administration.
The decision to advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 is based on feedback received from regulatory authorities following end-of-phase 2 interactions for subcutaneous and oral amycretin in weight management.
Novo Nordisk <a target="_blank" href="https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916348" rel="noreferrer noopener">plans</a> to initiate a phase 3 development program with amycretin for adults with overweight or obesity during the first quarter of 2026.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45885869/novo-nordisk-deep-apple-launch-drug-discovery-alliance-for-weight-loss-oral-therapies" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk, Deep Apple Launch Drug Discovery Alliance For Weight Loss Oral Therapies</a>
Oral Amycretin Phase 1 trial evaluated the single-ascending dose and multiple-ascending doses for oral amycretin, up to 2 times 50 mg, in people with overweight or obesity, with a total treatment duration of up to 12 weeks.
The Subcutaneous Amycretin Phase 1b/2a trial investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and proof-of-concept of once-weekly subcutaneous amycretin in overweight or obese people.
The trial was a combined single ascending dose, multiple ascending dose, and dose-response trial investigating three different maintenance doses with a total treatment duration of up to 36 weeks.
When evaluating the effects of treatment if all people adhered to treatment&nbsp;from a mean baseline body weight of 92.7 kg, people treated with amycretin achieved an estimated body weight loss of 9.7% on 1.25mg (20 weeks), 16.2% on 5mg (28 weeks) and 22.0% <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/01/43187095/novo-nordisks-weekly-amycretin-delivers-up-to-22-weight-loss-in-study-stock-soars" rel="noreferrer noopener">on 20mg (36 weeks)</a>.
People treated with a placebo experienced an estimated 1.9%, 2.3%, and 2.0% body weight gain, respectively.
After the update, Novo Nordisk again became the largest European company by market capitalization.
According <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/feature/newsfeed" rel="noreferrer noopener">to Benzinga Pro</a>, Novo Nordisk&#8217;s market capitalization was $360.14 billion, compared with $351.9 billion for SAP SE (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SAP#NYSE">SAP</a>).
Since reaching a record high in June 2024, Novo has suffered a series of setbacks, including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42613036/novo-nordisks-hybrid-weight-loss-drug-falls-short-on-expectations-stock-plunges" rel="noreferrer noopener">disappointing clinical trial results</a> for its experimental obesity treatments and mounting competition from its U.S. rival, Eli Lilly And Co (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>).
In May, the drugmaker <a href="https://www.novonordisk.com/content/nncorp/global/en/news-and-media/news-and-ir-materials/news-details.html?id=916008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">decided</a> to replace chief executive officer Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen. A search for a new CEO is ongoing.
Year to date, Novo Nordisk stock has fallen around 5.5%. In the past year, the stock has plunged approximately 43%.
Price Action: NVO stock is down 0.57% at $80.59&nbsp;at the last check on Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45910197/nvidia-just-partnered-with-a-weight-loss-giant-but-its-not-about-pills" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nvidia Just Partnered With A Weight-Loss Giant, But It&#8217;s Not About Pills</a></li>
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Novo Nordisk Moves Amycretin Into Phase 3 Trials For Weight Management, Becomes Europe's Largest Company

Novo Nordisk (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) has outperformed the market over the past 5 years by 5.83% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 19.65%. Currently, Novo Nordisk has a market capitalization of $355.78 billion. 
Buying $100 In NVO: If an investor had bought $100 of NVO stock 5 years ago, it would be worth $244.94 today based on a price of $80.07 for NVO at the time of writing.
<h3>Novo Nordisk's Performance Over Last 5 Years</h3>
<img src="https://www.benzinga.com/files/images/story/2025/1749825016_0.png" alt="comp_fig" />
Finally -- what's the point of all this? The key insight to take from this article is to note how much of a difference compounded returns can make in your cash growth over a period of time.
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

If You Invested $100 In This Stock 5 Years Ago, You Would Have This Much Today

WIIM

Novo Nordisk shares are trading higher after the company announced that it will advance subcutaneous and oral amycretin into phase 3 development in weight management.

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders often look for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges away from its normal worth. Abnormal amounts of trading activity could push option prices to hyperbolic or underperforming levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$320.00</td>
<td>$46.9K</td>
<td>13.5K</td>
<td>12.3K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>BSX</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>06/18/26</td>
<td>$100.00</td>
<td>$1.3 million</td>
<td>580</td>
<td>1.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/20/25</td>
<td>$52.00</td>
<td>$54.2K</td>
<td>3.1K</td>
<td>998</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VERA</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$22.50</td>
<td>$108.7K</td>
<td>5.4K</td>
<td>781</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>REPL</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$12.50</td>
<td>$28.3K</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>437</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/15/27</td>
<td>$80.00</td>
<td>$38.8K</td>
<td>3.5K</td>
<td>300</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>TEM</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$60.00</td>
<td>$114.0K</td>
<td>314</td>
<td>214</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>03/20/26</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$94.2K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>153</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>AZN</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$72.50</td>
<td>$33.4K</td>
<td>855</td>
<td>143</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>DOCS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$67.50</td>
<td>$27.8K</td>
<td>155</td>
<td>110</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These bullet-by-bullet explanations have been constructed using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bullish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 102 contract(s) at a $320.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $46.9K, with a price of $460.0 per contract. There were 13587 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 12314 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For BSX (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BSX#NYSE">BSX</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bullish, expiring in 371 day(s) on June 18, 2026. This event was a transfer of 1500 contract(s) at a $100.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $1.3 million, with a price of $920.0 per contract. There were 580 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1500 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding HIMS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), we observe a put option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 8 day(s) on June 20, 2025. Parties traded 525 contract(s) at a $52.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 54 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $54.2K, with a price of $104.0 per contract. There were 3124 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 998 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For VERA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VERA#NASDAQ">VERA</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 36 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 750 contract(s) at a $22.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $108.7K, with a price of $145.0 per contract. There were 5422 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 781 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For REPL (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REPL#NASDAQ">REPL</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 36 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 334 contract(s) at a $12.50 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 19 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $28.3K, with a price of $85.0 per contract. There were 23 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 437 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NVO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 582 day(s) on January 15, 2027. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $80.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $38.8K, with a price of $1940.0 per contract. There were 3586 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 300 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For TEM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TEM#NASDAQ">TEM</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 64 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 200 contract(s) at a $60.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 18 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $114.0K, with a price of $570.0 per contract. There were 314 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 214 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 281 day(s) on March 20, 2026. This event was a transfer of 152 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 4 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $94.2K, with a price of $620.0 per contract. There were 2354 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 153 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For AZN (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AZN#NASDAQ">AZN</a>), we notice a put option trade that happens to be bearish, expiring in 99 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 130 contract(s) at a $72.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $33.4K, with a price of $257.0 per contract. There were 855 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 143 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding DOCS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DOCS#NYSE">DOCS</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 64 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 100 contract(s) at a $67.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.8K, with a price of $278.0 per contract. There were 155 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 110 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

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Hims & Hers Health, Inc. Class A Common Stock

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REPL

VERA

10 Health Care Stocks With Whale Alerts In Today's Session

<a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/12/3098636/0/en/Novo-Nordisk-to-advance-subcutaneous-and-oral-amycretin-for-weight-management-into-phase-3-clinical-development.html">https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/12/3098636/0/en/Novo-Nordisk-to-advance-subcutaneous-and-oral-amycretin-for-weight-management-into-phase-3-clinical-development.html</a>

Novo Nordisk To Advance Subcutaneous And Oral Amycretin For Weight Management Into Phase 3 Clinical Development

Founder and CEO of Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVDA#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>), Jensen Huang, announced on Wednesday that the company has inked two new large partnerships to advance its <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">work in healthcare</a>.
The&nbsp;first&nbsp;is with European-based weight loss drug maker Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) to accelerate drug discovery and development efforts by leveraging an existing partnership with the Danish Centre for AI Innovation's (DCAI) Gefion AI supercomputer.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/03/44359600/hyperfine-nvidia-partner-to-make-brain-mris-more-affordable" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hyperfine, Nvidia Partner To Make Brain MRIs More Affordable</a>
The companies <a target="_blank" href="https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-partners-with-novo-nordisk-and-dcai-to-advance-drug-discovery" rel="noreferrer noopener">aim</a> to create customized AI models and agents that Novo Nordisk can use for early research and clinical development and to apply advanced simulation and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care/25/01/42974082/nvidia-eyes-1-billion-in-healthcare-ai-revenue-next-growth-frontier" rel="noreferrer noopener">physical AI&nbsp;technologies</a>.
Novo Nordisk will use&nbsp;NVIDIA BioNeMo for generative AI-powered drug discovery,&nbsp;NVIDIA NIM, and&nbsp;NVIDIA NeMo microservices for building customized agentic workflows, and the&nbsp;NVIDIA Omniverse platform to create physically accurate simulation environments for developing physical AI applications.
Novo Nordisk researchers will focus on several AI research programs, including using single-cell models to predict cellular responses to drug candidates and structures, as well as designing models to build molecules with drug-like properties.
The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/iqvia-ai-agents-clinical-research/" rel="noreferrer noopener">second</a>&nbsp;partnership is with IQVIA Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IQV#NYSE">IQV</a>). At&nbsp;NVIDIA GTC Paris at VivaTech, IQVIA announced the launching of multiple AI orchestrator agents in collaboration with NVIDIA.
These specialized agentic systems are designed to manage and accelerate complex pharmaceutical development workflows for IQVIA's thousands of pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device customers.
The new agents will be "orchestrator agents," meaning they will act as supervisors for groups of "sub-agents" with their specialties; the supervising agent will route a received task to the appropriate sub-agent, enabling an efficient and automated workflow.
The companies say IQVIA orchestrator agents can provide a comprehensive understanding of how a treatment will reach patients by analyzing patient records, prescriptions, and lab results in just a few days instead of weeks.
During the first-quarter 2025 earnings call in May, Nvidia unveiled its robotics strategy, positioning the chipmaker for what executives called the emerging "era of robotics" as artificial intelligence expands beyond data centers <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/05/45662285/nvidia-unveils-foundation-models-for-humanoids-eyes-era-of-robotics-as-ai-spend-accelerates" rel="noreferrer noopener">into physical applications</a>.
"The era of robotics is here. Billions of robots, hundreds of millions of autonomous vehicles, and hundreds of thousands of robotic factories and warehouses will be developed," Chief Financial Officer&nbsp;Colette Kress&nbsp;told analysts during the earnings call.
Price Action: NVDA stock is up 1.02% at $$144.31 at the last check on Thursday.
Read Next:
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Photo: Shutterstock

Tech

NVDA

Nvidia Just Partnered With A Weight-Loss Giant, But It's Not About Pills

Weight-loss drugs are suppressing appetites for millions of Americans, threatening to upend dining habits at fast-food chains and casting a shadow over the restaurant <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants">industry&#8217;s long-term growth.</a>
The stark warning came from Redburn Atlantic, which on Tuesday issued a rare double downgrade on McDonald's Corp. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NASDAQ">MCD</a>) — cutting the stock from Buy to Sell — amid growing concern that appetite-suppressing medications such as Novo Nordisk A/S&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) Wegovy and Eli Lilly and Co.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) Zepbound are reshaping consumer behaviors.
Redburn's analyst Chris Luyckx said the behavioral effects of GLP-1 drugs are deeper than previously believed and could cause a cascading demand shock for restaurants reliant on habitual and group dining.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Is This The End Of America's Fast-Food Boom?</h1>
Luyckx estimates McDonald's could lose 28 million annual visits, amounting to $481.5 million in revenue — a 0.9% drag on its systemwide sales.
While that may appear manageable today, the analyst warned that the risk is cumulative, with broader shifts in eating habits already underway.
&#8220;A 1% drag today could easily build to 10% or more over time, particularly for brands skewed towards lower-income consumers or group occasions,&#8221; Luyckx said. 
&#8220;Despite best-in-class scale and global reach, McDonald's is showing cracks. Traffic is soft, especially in the U.S., where pricing fatigue and value perception are growing concerns,&#8221; he added.
Since 1977, the portion of calories Americans consume from restaurants has nearly tripled. But Redburn's report suggests that trend may be reversing. 
Currently, just 6% of U.S. adults are using GLP-1 medications, and 12% have ever taken them. Redburn's healthcare team expects penetration to reach 12% of non-type 2 diabetic obese adults by 2030.
<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Lunch and Dinner Under Pressure</h1>
&#8220;Lower-income users cut fast-food spending by 14%, double that of higher-income users, with the sharpest declines at lunch and dinner," Redburn's report said.
Among lower-income GLP-1 users, lunch spending drops by approximately 9%, while dinner falls by about 12%. 
These meals are typically the highest-volume periods for limited-service restaurants, leaving brands skewed toward those times disproportionately exposed.
Domino's Pizza Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DPZ#NYSE">DPZ</a>) and KFC face the highest relative risks. Domino's could see a $129.8 million revenue hit per year, or 1.4% of its system sales, while KFC may lose 1.2%.
Redburn initiated coverage on Domino&#8217;s Pizza with Sell rating and a 12-month price target of $340, implying 25% decline from current levels.
&#8220;Domino's, McDonald's and Pizza Hut face higher vulnerability given their high U.S. exposure, lower-income skews, daypart exposure and greater reliance on group occasions, where behavioural spillovers are more likely to occur,&#8221; said Luyckx.
Chains with more diversified traffic patterns, like Taco Bell and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CMG#NYSE">CMG</a>), are better positioned.
Taco Bell benefits from late-night traffic, where GLP-1 effects are minimal, while Chipotle's more affluent and health-conscious customer base shields it from the brunt of the shift. Chipotle's projected annual loss is $86.6 million, or just 0.8% of sales.
Read Now:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45687453/starbucks-ends-25-star-bonus-for-reusable-cups-shifts-to-double-stars-as-ceo-cuts-perks-to-improve-profits">Starbucks Is Ending One Of Its Most Generous Loyalty Benefits As CEO Cuts Perks To Improve Profits</a> Photo New Africa On Shutterstock </li>
</ul>

Analyst Color

Restaurants

Economics

Analyst Ratings

McDonald's Just Got Hammered By Weight-Loss Drugs — Twice

Deep Apple Therapeutics, Inc. announced on Wednesday a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) to discover, develop, and commercialize oral small molecule therapeutics directed at a novel non-incretin GPCR target for cardiometabolic diseases, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">including obesity</a>.
Under the terms of the agreement, Deep Apple <a target="_blank" href="https://deepappletx.com/deep-apple-therapeutics-announces-collaboration-with-novo-nordisk-to-discover-and-develop-oral-therapeutics-for-cardiometabolic-diseases/" rel="noreferrer noopener">will</a> discover and optimize compounds using its proprietary drug discovery platform, which combines machine-learning-powered virtual screening with structural biology enabled by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to dramatically improve speed, quality, and novelty in lead generation and optimization.
Novo Nordisk will receive exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the resulting compounds and products in all indications.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45814068/novo-nordisks-wegovy-tied-to-increased-risk-of-rare-vision-loss-disorder-european-regulators-say" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Wegovy Tied To Increased Risk Of Rare Vision-Loss Disorder, European Regulators Say</a>
Both companies will collaborate on the research plan, with program handoff to Novo Nordisk occurring immediately before the start of IND-enabling studies.
Deep Apple is eligible to receive an upfront payment, research costs, and milestone payments from Novo Nordisk.
Deep Apple will be eligible to receive up to $812 million in payments and potential royalties on sales of any products that emerge from the collaboration.
Recently, the Danish pharma giant <a target="_blank" href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07011667?cond=CAGRISEMA&amp;sort=StudyFirstPostDate&amp;rank=1" rel="noreferrer noopener">initiated</a> a Phase 3 trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cagrilintide sc combined with semaglutide sc (CagriSema&nbsp;sc) once weekly for weight management and long-term weight maintenance in obese participants.
The two-part study in around 600 participants will last about 3 years and 3 months.
In March, Novo Nordisk announced headline results from the REDEFINE 2 phase 3 trial in the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/03/44244966/novo-nordisks-combo-drug-cagrisema-shows-16-weight-reduction-in-second-phase-3-trial-stock-falls" rel="noreferrer noopener">global REDEFINE program</a>.
REDEFINE 2 is a 68-week efficacy and safety trial investigating once-weekly subcutaneous CagriSema compared to placebo.
After 68 weeks, 61.9% of patients treated with CagriSema were on the highest dose.
When evaluating treatment effects, if all people adhered to treatment, people treated with CagriSema achieved a weight loss of 15.7% after 68 weeks compared to 3.1% with placebo.
Last week, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/REGN#NASDAQ">REGN</a>) released interim results from the ongoing Phase 2 COURAGE trial evaluating Regeneron&#8217;s trevogrumab (anti-GDF8/anti-myostatin) with semaglutide (GLP-1&nbsp;receptor agonist) with or without garetosmab&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45726872/regeneron-experimental-weight-loss-drug-with-novo-nordisks-wegovy-helps-preserve-lean-mass-in-mid-stage-study" rel="noreferrer noopener">(anti-activin A) for obesity</a>.
The trial demonstrated that approximately 35% of semaglutide-induced weight loss was due to the loss of lean mass.
Price Action: NVO stock is up 0.04% at $79.36&nbsp;at the last check Wednesday.
Read Next:
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45834370/eli-lillys-obesity-drug-success-spurs-japanese-biotechs-anti-muscle-wasting-combo-therapy" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Eli Lilly&#8217;s Obesity Drug Success Spurs Japanese Biotech&#8217;s Anti-Muscle-Wasting Combo Therapy</a></li>
</ul>
Photo by JHVEPhoto via Shutterstock

Contracts

Novo Nordisk, Deep Apple Launch Drug Discovery Alliance For Weight Loss Oral Therapies

Partnership aims to develop first-in-class, small molecule therapeutics directed at a novel non-incretin GPCR target for cardiometabolic diseases
Deep Apple is eligible to receive up to $812 million, including an upfront payment, research costs, and milestone payments
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 11, 2025 /PR Newswire/ – Deep Apple Therapeutics, Inc. announced today a research collaboration and exclusive worldwide license agreement with Novo Nordisk to discover, develop, and commercialize oral small molecule therapeutics directed at a novel non-incretin GPCR target for cardiometabolic diseases, including obesity.
Under the terms of the agreement, Deep Apple will discover and optimize compounds using its proprietary drug discovery platform, which combines machine-learning-powered virtual screening with structural biology enabled by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to dramatically improve speed, quality, and novelty in lead generation and optimization.
Novo Nordisk will receive exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the resulting compounds and products in all indications. Both companies will collaborate on the research plan, with program handoff to Novo Nordisk occurring immediately prior to the start of IND-enabling studies.
Deep Apple is eligible to receive an upfront payment, research costs, and milestone payments from Novo Nordisk. In total, Deep Apple will be eligible to receive up to $812 million in payments, as well as potential royalties on sales of any products that emerge from the collaboration.
The target is a non-incretin G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) that is well-suited for Deep Apple's platform, which captures the dynamics and motion of GPCRs and other proteins in different conformations to reveal novel pockets that can be docked with Deep Apple's proprietary virtual libraries.

Deep Apple Therapeutics Collaborates With Novo Nordisk To Discover, Develop, And Commercialize Oral Small Molecule Therapeutics Directed At Non-Incretin GPCR Target For Cardiometabolic Diseases

NVIDIA And Novo Nordisk Collaborate To Build AI Models For Early Research And Clinical Use

This whale alert can help traders discover the next big trading opportunities.
Whales are entities with large sums of money and we track their transactions here at Benzinga on our options activity scanner.
Traders will search for circumstances when the market estimation of an option diverges heavily from its normal worth. High amounts of trading activity could push option prices to exaggerated or underestimated levels. 
Here's the list of options activity happening in today's session: 
<table>
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Symbol</th>
<th>PUT/CALL</th>
<th>Trade Type</th>
<th>Sentiment</th>
<th>Exp. Date</th>
<th>Strike Price</th>
<th>Total Trade Price</th>
<th>Open Interest</th>
<th>Volume</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>HIMS</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>06/13/25</td>
<td>$55.00</td>
<td>$82.5K</td>
<td>2.3K</td>
<td>4.5K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LQDA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$15.00</td>
<td>$27.9K</td>
<td>723</td>
<td>1.1K</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>VKTX</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$27.50</td>
<td>$26.3K</td>
<td>3.6K</td>
<td>897</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ALT</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>07/18/25</td>
<td>$6.00</td>
<td>$185.2K</td>
<td>930</td>
<td>783</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>UNH</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>NEUTRAL</td>
<td>12/19/25</td>
<td>$350.00</td>
<td>$80.9K</td>
<td>4.1K</td>
<td>712</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRK</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$115.00</td>
<td>$45.6K</td>
<td>2.5K</td>
<td>600</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>MRNA</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>09/19/25</td>
<td>$30.00</td>
<td>$27.2K</td>
<td>14.5K</td>
<td>195</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>INSM</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BEARISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$70.1K</td>
<td>420</td>
<td>157</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>NVO</td>
<td>CALL</td>
<td>TRADE</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>01/16/26</td>
<td>$75.00</td>
<td>$29.0K</td>
<td>1.6K</td>
<td>94</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>LLY</td>
<td>PUT</td>
<td>SWEEP</td>
<td>BULLISH</td>
<td>08/15/25</td>
<td>$770.00</td>
<td>$32.4K</td>
<td>222</td>
<td>87</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

<h2>Explanation</h2>
These itemized elaborations have been created using the accompanying table. 
• Regarding HIMS (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HIMS#NYSE">HIMS</a>), we observe a call option sweep with bearish sentiment. It expires in 3 day(s) on June 13, 2025. Parties traded 500 contract(s) at a $55.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 67 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $82.5K, with a price of $165.0 per contract. There were 2313 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 4580 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding LQDA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LQDA#NASDAQ">LQDA</a>), we observe a put option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 38 day(s) on July 18, 2025. Parties traded 215 contract(s) at a $15.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.9K, with a price of $130.0 per contract. There were 723 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 1174 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding VKTX (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/VKTX#NASDAQ">VKTX</a>), we observe a call option trade with neutral sentiment. It expires in 66 day(s) on August 15, 2025. Parties traded 40 contract(s) at a $27.50 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $26.3K, with a price of $659.0 per contract. There were 3634 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 897 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For ALT (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ALT#NASDAQ">ALT</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 38 day(s) on July 18, 2025. This event was a transfer of 1122 contract(s) at a $6.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 62 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $185.2K, with a price of $165.0 per contract. There were 930 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 783 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For UNH (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/UNH#NYSE">UNH</a>), we notice a call option trade that happens to be neutral, expiring in 192 day(s) on December 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 40 contract(s) at a $350.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $80.9K, with a price of $2023.0 per contract. There were 4181 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 712 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRK (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRK#NYSE">MRK</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 220 day(s) on January 16, 2026. This event was a transfer of 600 contract(s) at a $115.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 49 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $45.6K, with a price of $76.0 per contract. There were 2577 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 600 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For MRNA (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MRNA#NASDAQ">MRNA</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 101 day(s) on September 19, 2025. This event was a transfer of 50 contract(s) at a $30.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $27.2K, with a price of $545.0 per contract. There were 14560 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 195 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For INSM (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/INSM#NASDAQ">INSM</a>), we notice a call option sweep that happens to be bearish, expiring in 66 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 39 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. This particular call needed to be split into 8 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $70.1K, with a price of $1806.0 per contract. There were 420 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 157 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• Regarding NVO (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>), we observe a call option trade with bullish sentiment. It expires in 220 day(s) on January 16, 2026. Parties traded 20 contract(s) at a $75.00 strike. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $29.0K, with a price of $1450.0 per contract. There were 1606 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 94 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
• For LLY (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>), we notice a put option sweep that happens to be bullish, expiring in 66 day(s) on August 15, 2025. This event was a transfer of 8 contract(s) at a $770.00 strike. This particular put needed to be split into 6 different trades to become filled. The total cost received by the writing party (or parties) was $32.4K, with a price of $4055.0 per contract. There were 222 open contracts at this strike prior to today, and today 87 contract(s) were bought and sold. 
Options Alert Terminology 
 - Call Contracts: The right to buy shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Put Contracts: The right to sell shares as indicated in the contract. 
 - Expiration Date: When the contract expires. One must act on the contract by this date if one wants to use it. 
 - Premium/Option Price: The price of the contract. 
For more information, visit our <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/blog/how-to-understand-option-alerts/">Guide to Understanding Options Alerts</a> or read <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/options">more about unusual options activity</a>. 
This article was generated by Benzinga's automated content engine and reviewed by an editor.

INSM

LQDA

MRNA

VKTX

10 Health Care Stocks Whale Activity In Today's Session

<a href="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07011667?cond=CAGRISEMA&amp;sort=StudyFirstPostDate&amp;rank=1" title="https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07011667?cond=CAGRISEMA&amp;sort=StudyFirstPostDate&amp;rank=1">https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07011667?cond=CAGRISEMA&amp;sort=StudyFirstPostDate&amp;rank=1</a>

Novo Nordisk Announces A Research Study To Look At How Well CagriSema Helps People Living With Obesity Lose Weight And Maintain Weight Loss In The Long-Term

Novo Nordisk shares are trading higher. The company announced it will present data from the STEP UP trial on the higher dose if Wegovy at the American Diabetes Association 85th Scientific Sessions.

Events

Novo Nordisk To Present Data From STEP UP Trial On Higher Dose Of Wegovy At American Diabetes Association 85th Scientific Sessions Jun. 20-23

Management

'Parvus Asset Management Wants To Influence The Appointment Of Novo Nordisk's New Chief' - FT

<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d8ae2ef0-6165-4cb9-8eab-d28efa95b00f" title="https://www.ft.com/content/d8ae2ef0-6165-4cb9-8eab-d28efa95b00f">https://www.ft.com/content/d8ae2ef0-6165-4cb9-8eab-d28efa95b00f</a>

'Activist hedge fund builds stake in Ozempic-maker Novo Nordisk' - Financial Times

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CHGCY#OTC">CHGCY</a>) believes its anti-muscle-wasting drug could be used alongside Eli Lilly And Co.&#8217;s (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/LLY#NYSE">LLY</a>) <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">oral obesity pill</a>, orforglipron.
Roche Holdings AG (OTC:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RHHBY#OTC">RHHBY</a>) is a major shareholder of Chugai, a Japanese pharmaceutical company. The company&#8217;s optimism stems from growing evidence that modern weight-loss drugs can lead to significant muscle loss, an issue Chugai thinks it can help address.
Hitoshi Iikura, a senior executive at Chugai, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ft.com/content/4fd1fd94-0b70-48fb-861b-3bad6286ebae" rel="noreferrer noopener">told</a> the Financial Times the company has &#8220;high expectations&#8221; for combining GYM329, initially developed for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), with orforglipron or similar therapies.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45769020/mounjaro-maker-eli-lilly-taps-swedish-firm-camurus-to-target-long-acting-obesity-market-in-870-million-deal" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mounjaro Maker Eli Lilly Taps Swedish Firm Camurus To Target Long-Acting Obesity Market In $870-Million Deal</a>
Orforglipron, which Lilly licensed from Chugai, showed strong late-stage trial results, matching the safety and efficacy of popular injectables like Novo Nordisk A/S&#8217; (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) Wegovy and Ozempic and Lilly&#8217;s Zepbound and Mounjaro.
The drug significantly <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/04/44934811/eli-lilly-positioned-to-dominate-obesity-market-with-oral-option-analyst-initiates-with-confidence" rel="noreferrer noopener">reduced weight and blood sugar levels</a> and is expected to hit the market next year.
Chugai began developing orforglipron in 2003 as part of an effort to enhance diabetes treatments, aiming to make them longer-acting and tablet-based. Although obesity wasn&#8217;t an initial target, the company saw broader potential as research evolved. &#8220;We didn&#8217;t anticipate it but it&#8217;s ballooning,&#8221; Iikura said, referring to the unexpectedly large obesity market.
Studies suggest that 25% to 39% of weight loss from obesity drugs may be due to lean mass reduction, which includes muscle. Chugai argues that maintaining muscle mass is vital, especially for aging populations, and its GYM329 drug could be a key component in preventing this loss during weight-loss treatment.
Despite Chugai&#8217;s success, Roche had previously passed on orforglipron due to setbacks with an earlier weight-loss drug. At the time, much of the pharmaceutical industry was hesitant to enter the obesity space, except companies like Lilly and Novo Nordisk with strong metabolic disease portfolios.
However, with market interest and scientific breakthroughs accelerating, Roche reversed course in 2023 and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/24/08/40422774/roche-misses-out-on-weight-loss-blockbuster-drug-now-playing-catch-up-in-booming-market" rel="noreferrer noopener">reentered the field</a>.
Meanwhile, Bloomberg <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-07/lilly-s-obesity-drug-sales-rise-60-in-india-amid-rising-demand" rel="noreferrer noopener">reported</a> that Eli Lilly saw a 60% jump in sales of its weight-loss and diabetes drug Mounjaro in India in May compared to April, marking its second full month on the Indian market.
India has the third-largest obese population in the world.
According to market research firm Pharmarack Technologies, the U.S. drugmaker made 126 million rupees ($1.5 million) from Mounjaro injections last month.
Sales of the 5 mg dose more than doubled to 75 million rupees, while the 2.5 mg version brought in 51 million rupees.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), there are 101 million people with diabetes in India. Of these, at least 40 million are on medication.
Vishal Manchanda, SVP of institutional research at Systematix Group,&nbsp;told&nbsp;Livemint that even if 0.5% of 40 million use Mounjaro, it would fetch Eli Lilly sales of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44824190/eli-lillys-mounjaro-launch-triggers-weight-loss-craze-in-india-novo-nordisk-seeks-to-move-up-wegovy-launch" rel="noreferrer noopener">$1.5 billion annually</a>.
Novo Nordisk&nbsp;is also trying to move up the launch of Wegovy in India to better compete with Lilly.
Price Action: LLY stock closed up 0.55% at $769.88 on Friday.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/large-cap/25/06/45814068/novo-nordisks-wegovy-tied-to-increased-risk-of-rare-vision-loss-disorder-european-regulators-say" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk&#8217;s Wegovy Tied To Increased Risk Of Rare Vision-Loss Disorder, European Regulators Say</a></li>
</ul>
Photo via Shutterstock

CHGCY

Eli Lilly's Obesity Drug Success Spurs Japanese Biotech's Anti-Muscle-Wasting Combo Therapy

The European Medicines Agency's (EMA) safety committee (PRAC) has concluded its review of medicines containing semaglutide following concerns regarding a possible increased risk of developing non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), an eye condition that may <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/health-care" rel="noreferrer noopener">cause vision loss</a>.
Novo Nordisk A/S's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) semaglutide, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, is the&nbsp;active substance&nbsp;in certain medicines used for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/weight-loss" rel="noreferrer noopener">diabetes and obesity</a> (Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy).
After reviewing all available data on NAION with semaglutide, including data from non-clinical studies,&nbsp;clinical trials, post-marketing surveillance and the medical literature,&nbsp;the committee on Friday <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/prac-concludes-eye-condition-naion-very-rare-side-effect-semaglutide-medicines-ozempic-rybelsus-wegovy" rel="noreferrer noopener">concluded</a> that NAION is a very rare side effect of semaglutide (meaning it may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people taking semaglutide).
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/biotech/25/05/45418556/novo-nordisks-ozempic-weight-loss-jabs-could-boost-uk-economy-by-6-billion-study-finds" rel="noreferrer noopener">Novo Nordisk's Ozempic Weight Loss Jabs Could Boost UK Economy By $6 Billion, Study Finds</a>
Results from several large epidemiological studies suggest that exposure to semaglutide in adults with type 2 diabetes is associated with an approximately two-fold increase in the risk of developing NAION compared with people not taking the medicine.
This corresponds to approximately one additional case of NAION per 10,000 person-years of treatment; one person-year corresponds to one person taking semaglutide for one year.
Data from&nbsp;clinical trials&nbsp;also point to a slightly higher risk of developing the condition in people taking semaglutide compared with people taking a placebo (a dummy treatment).
Therefore, EMA has recommended that the&nbsp;product information&nbsp;for semaglutide medicines be updated to include NAION as a side effect with a frequency of ‘very rare.'
In December, a study conducted in Denmark and Norway revealed a potential link between the use of semaglutide for type 2 diabetes and an increased risk of non-arteritic anterior <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42489755/novo-nordisks-ozempic-potentially-linked-to-rare-vision-loss-risk-but-study-concludes-absolute-increase-in-risk-minimal" rel="noreferrer noopener">ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION)</a>.
Additionally, New research suggests that GLP-1 receptor agonists, widely prescribed for diabetes and weight loss, may significantly raise the risk of age-related macular degeneration in older diabetic patients.
A <a target="_blank" href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaophthalmology/fullarticle/2834967?guestAccessKey=3bb97cc4-36f2-4679-807b-4741de2fa139&amp;utm_source=for_the_media&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=ftm_links&amp;utm_content=tfl&amp;utm_term=060525" rel="noreferrer noopener">study</a> published on Thursday in JAMA Ophthalmology by the University of Toronto researchers warns of a potential downside: increased risk of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in diabetic users.
nAMD is&nbsp;a severe form of age-related macular degeneration characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels in the back of the eye.
Analyzing medical data from over 1 million Ontario residents with diabetes, researchers identified 46,334 patients prescribed GLP-1 RAs, most of whom were taking semaglutide—likely Ozempic, since Wegovy was only recently approved in Canada.
Patients on these medications were matched with participants not on GLP-1 RAs, sharing similar demographics and health profiles, and tracked for three years.
The study found that diabetic patients taking GLP-1 RAs for at least six months had double the risk of developing neovascular AMD compared to non-users.
Over a mean follow-up period of 2.4 years, 0.2% of the GLP-1 RA cohort progressed to nAMD compared with only 0.1% of control participants, resulting in an increased hazard for nAMD of 2.21 for the GLP-1 RA cohort.
The risk was also highest in those with the longest duration of exposure.
The Guardian report <a target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jun/05/weight-loss-drugs-risk-of-eye-damage-diabetic-patients-study" rel="noreferrer noopener">added</a> that those on the medications for more than 30 months had over three times the risk. The risk was even greater in older patients and those with a prior stroke.
Recent findings from the 2025 American Clinical Society of Oncology annual conference suggested that patients using weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, were about 33% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer compared to matched individuals <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/45757157/whats-going-on-with-novo-nordisk-shares-today" rel="noreferrer noopener">not using the medication</a>.
Price Action: NVO stock is up 2.45% at $74.43&nbsp;at the last check Friday.
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Photo by Tobias Arhelger via Shutterstock

Eurozone

Novo Nordisk's Wegovy Tied To Increased Risk Of Rare Vision-Loss Disorder, European Regulators Say

<a href="https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/05/glp-1-drugs-low-but-elevated-risk-of-age-related-macular-degeneration/?utm_campaign=rss" title="https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/05/glp-1-drugs-low-but-elevated-risk-of-age-related-macular-degeneration/?utm_campaign=rss">https://www.statnews.com/2025/06/05/glp-1-drugs-low-but-elevated-risk-of-age-related-macular-degeneration/?utm_campaign=rss</a>

'GLP-1 Drugs May Be Linked To Elevated Risk Of Serious Eye Disease, Study Finds' - STAT News

Shares of Novo Nordisk Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) are trading lower Tuesday after a new study raised concerns about a potential link between GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and an <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/45726872/regeneron-experimental-weight-loss-drug-with-novo-nordisks-wegovy-helps-preserve-lean-mass-in-mid-stage-study">increased risk of kidney cancer.</a>
What To Know: The drop comes after findings from the American Clinical Society of Oncology&#8217;s annual conference suggested that patients using weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, were about 33% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer compared to matched individuals not using the medication, <a href="http://Shares of Novo Nordisk (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/NVO#NYSE">NVO</a>) are trading lower Tuesday after a new study raised concerns about a potential link between GLP-1 weight loss drugs like Ozempic and an increased risk of kidney cancer. The drop comes after findings from the American Clinical Society of Oncology's annual conference suggested that patients using weight loss drugs, including Ozempic, were about 33% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer compared to matched individuals not using the medication. The data, drawn from a Florida-based database of over 86,000 patients tracked for up to a decade, showed 83 cases of kidney cancer among users of GLP-1 drugs versus 58 in the control group. While the study also indicated that these drugs were associated with lower risks for several other obesity-linked cancers—such as endometrial and ovarian cancer—researchers flagged kidney cancer as a notable outlier. The lead author, Dr. Hao Dai of Indiana University, emphasized that the findings were observational and did not confirm causation, but still called the data &quot;concerning&quot; and said it highlights the need for continued surveillance. The study supports previous research, including a 2023 study of 1.6 million diabetics that reported a 54% increased risk of kidney cancer among GLP-1 drug users compared to those using metformin. Potential mechanisms discussed include recurring acute kidney injuries due to side effects like vomiting and dehydration, as well as speculation about how GLP-1 receptor stimulation in kidney tissue might affect cell behavior. Novo Nordisk's stock fell over 2% in response, as investors weighed the reputational and regulatory risks tied to the high-profile weight-loss drug Ozempic, despite the study's preliminary nature and inconclusive causality.">according to the Daily Mail.
The data, drawn from a Florida-based database of over 86,000 patients tracked for up to a decade, showed 83 cases of kidney cancer among users of GLP-1 drugs versus 58 in the control group.
While the study also indicated that these drugs were associated with lower risks for several other obesity-linked cancers, such as endometrial and ovarian cancer, researchers flagged kidney cancer as a notable outlier. The lead author, Dr. Hao Dai of Indiana University, emphasized that the findings were observational and did not confirm causation but still called the data &#8220;concerning&#8221; and said it highlights the need for continued surveillance.
The study supports previous research, including a 2023 study of 1.6 million diabetics that reported a 54% increased risk of kidney cancer among GLP-1 drug users compared to those using metformin. Potential mechanisms discussed include recurring acute kidney injuries due to side effects like vomiting and dehydration, as well as speculation about how GLP-1 receptor stimulation in kidney tissue might affect cell behavior.
NVO Price Action: Novo Nordisk shares were down 2.53% at $70.99 at the time of writing, according to <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard?new_user=False&amp;backend=google-oauth2">Benzinga pro.</a>
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Image Via Shutterstock.

Movers

What's Going On With Novo Nordisk Shares Today?

Legal

Press Releases

NVO FINAL DEADLINE: ROSEN, NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS, Encourages Novo Nordisk A/S Investors to Secure Counsel Before Important March 25 Deadline in Securities Class Action – NVO

NVO INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Announces that Novo Nordisk A/S Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action Lawsuit

The Gross Law Firm Notifies Shareholders of Novo Nordisk A/S(NVO) of a Class Action Lawsuit and an Upcoming Deadline

Novo Nordisk expands Wegovy® $499-per-month offering to additional cash-paying patients via the Wegovy® savings offer

ONGOING DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Investigates Claims on Behalf of Investors of Novo Nordisk

NVO DEADLINE ALERT: Novo Nordisk (NVO) Investors with Losses Encouraged to Contact Hagens Berman Before Mar. 25th Deadline in Securities Class Action

Novo Nordisk A/S Sued for Securities Law Violations – Investors Should Contact Levi & Korsinsky Before March 25, 2025 to Discuss Your Rights – NVO

Novo Nordisk A/S Investors: Please contact the Portnoy Law Firm to recover your losses; March 25, 2025 Deadline to file Lead Plaintiff Motion

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From Retina Scans to Cancer Trials, AI Is Taking Over the Exam Room

New Novo Nordisk initiatives support patient access to authentic, FDA-approved Wegovy® as federal ban on mass compounding of "semaglutide" takes effect

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Date	Put/Call	Strike Price	Exp Date	DTE	Trade Vol	Day Vol	Vol / OI	OI	Trade Type	Sentiment
03:42 PMJun 10, 2025	CALL	$80.00	Aug 15, 2025	61	3189	803	42	7581	SWEEP	BULLISH
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