Doustdar says Novo Nordisk is hunting for deals 'more than ever before'

Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar said the company is looking for deals more than ever before, telling CNBC on Wednesday that Novo needs "not just the best, but the broadest pipeline in the world" to serve the patients it hopes to reach ^[1]. Doustdar said Novo is "quite active" in business development talks and acquisitions and predicted more deals are coming ^[1].

The comments came as analysts have questioned whether Novo's pipeline of future treatments is strong enough for the company to hold its lead in the fast-growing and increasingly crowded market for obesity drugs ^[1]. Rival Eli Lilly has already passed Novo in market share for weekly GLP-1 injections, though Novo has taken an early lead in the newer category of GLP-1 pills for weight loss ^[1].

Doustdar pushed back on skepticism about Novo's pipeline, calling it "one of the best pipelines in the industry" ^[1]. He pointed to two experimental drugs as evidence: CagriSema, which targets both the GLP-1 and amylin systems and which Novo hopes to get approved by the end of this year, and zenagamtide, an amylin-targeting drug whose development Novo has accelerated ^[1]. He also said there are pipeline assets he is "excited" about that Novo has not yet disclosed publicly, telling skeptical investors to "wait and see" ^[1].

The interview followed news that Novo's Wegovy pill performed better than expected in the first quarter, results that led the company to raise its full-year profit guidance ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

For people currently taking or considering Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus, the CEO's comments signal that Novo is trying to widen its lineup of GLP-1 and amylin-targeting treatments rather than rely solely on its existing drugs ^[1]. That could eventually mean more treatment options, but the sources do not say which specific deals Novo is pursuing, what conditions any new drugs would target, or when patients might see new products reach the market ^[1].

The competitive pressure described here also matters because it reflects a market where Eli Lilly's tirzepatide products (Mounjaro and Zepbound) have already taken the lead in weekly injections, while Novo currently leads in the newer oral GLP-1 pill category ^[1]. How this rivalry plays out could affect pricing, insurance coverage, and the pace at which new obesity treatments become available, though none of those outcomes are addressed in the source material.

Patients should also note that CagriSema and zenagamtide are still experimental. CagriSema is a drug candidate that Novo hopes will win approval by the end of this year, and zenagamtide's development has only recently been accelerated ^[1]. Neither is currently approved or available to patients, and the source does not specify a timeline for zenagamtide.

What happens next

Novo said it hopes CagriSema will be approved by the end of this year, though approval is not guaranteed and no exact date was given ^[1]. Doustdar said unspecified additional pipeline assets and deals will be disclosed over time, but the source does not name specific companies or drugs under negotiation, nor does it give a timeline for any acquisitions ^[1]. What is not yet known, based on these sources, is which companies Novo might acquire, how much any deals would cost, or how soon any newly acquired treatments could reach patients.