Novo Nordisk's Strategic Shakeup: Mike Doustdar Takes the Helm

Novo Nordisk has appointed Mike Doustdar as its new CEO amid a challenging financial landscape. The company lowered its 2025 outlook, unsettling investors. Analysts highlight issues such as the obesity drug market's dynamics, competition, and trust rebuilding as key challenges awaiting the new leadership.

Novo Nordisk has appointed Mike Doustdar as its new Chief Executive amid a turbulent financial backdrop, as the Danish pharmaceutical firm, renowned for its obesity drugs, has downgraded its financial outlook for the second time in 2025. The announcement sent its shares plummeting, drawing various reactions from market experts.

Markus Manns, a portfolio manager at Union Investment, remarked on the unexpectedly deep guidance cut: 'Novo's challenges go beyond compounded Wegovy in the U.S. and affect the global Wegovy franchise and Ozempic in diabetes.'

Other analysts from Jefferies, J.P. Morgan, and Citi offered differing perspectives, noting surprise at Doustdar's appointment and cautioning against overinterpretation of Novo's forecasts amid a competitive marketplace.

(With inputs from agencies.)