Health News Roundup: CVS and Walgreens say pharmacist work action had minimal impact; Novo Nordisk sees big sales boost next year despite Wegovy sales curbs and more

The Danish drugmaker, which this year overtook LVMH as Europe's most valuable listed company, posted record operating profit and sales for the third quarter, underscoring the phenomenal success of Wegovy so far. Novo Nordisk: obesity drugs priority over century-old focus on insulin Novo Nordisk said on Thursday treating obesity with its weight-loss drug Wegovy as a precursor to type 2 diabetes was a priority for the company, continuing the Danish drugmaker's shift away from its century-long focus on insulin.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs.

CVS and Walgreens say pharmacist work action had minimal impact

CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance on Wednesday said that a work action by some U.S. pharmacists this week had minimal impact on operations, with most stores remaining open. CVS Chief Executive Karen Lynch said in an interview that employees had called in sick at a few stores this week, but there were no store closures or disruptions to shifts due to the action. The company has about 30,000 pharmacists across stores and operates over 9,000 retail locations.

Regeneron beats quarterly profit estimates on eczema treatment strength

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on Thursday beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit, driven by strong demand for its eczema treatment, Dupixent. Anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent, which was approved in 2017, has aided Regeneron's profits while sales of its eye drug Eylea has taken a backseat in recent quarters owing to increased competition from Roche's Vabysmo.

Novo Nordisk sees big sales boost next year despite Wegovy sales curbs

Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it expects another year of double-digit sales growth for its two most popular drugs and will boost U.S. supplies of weight-loss drug Wegovy next year as it struggles to keep up with soaring demand. The Danish drugmaker, which this year overtook LVMH as Europe's most valuable listed company, posted record operating profit and sales for the third quarter, underscoring the phenomenal success of Wegovy so far.

Novo Nordisk: obesity drugs priority over century-old focus on insulin

Novo Nordisk said on Thursday treating obesity with its weight-loss drug Wegovy as a precursor to type 2 diabetes was a priority for the company, continuing the Danish drugmaker's shift away from its century-long focus on insulin. The company on Thursday reported record sales and operating profits for the third quarter driven by demand for Wegovy, even as the company cautioned shortages will continue in the short to medium term.

Why brewers aren't worried about Wegovy users drinking less beer

Global brewers AB InBev and Carlsberg this week played down concerns among some investors that demand for weight-loss drugs may lead to a sharp drop in beer drinking. Huge demand for new treatments such as Novo Nordisk's Wegovy has prompted questions about the implications for a range of industries, including brewers, and sparked share sell offs in companies involved in everything from food to healthcare.

Smith+Nephew plays down concerns about weight-loss drugs

British medical products maker Smith+Nephew said weight-loss drugs could help previously ineligible overweight patients get approval for joint replacement surgery, playing down concerns about the impact of the new therapies on its business. Concerns have grown that healthcare companies, including Smith+ Nephew that treat obese and overweight patients for knee-related issues, will be hurt by powerful new obesity drugs known as GLP-1s like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy.

Moderna tempers 2023 COVID vaccine sales forecast

Moderna on Thursday said it expected 2023 revenue of at least $6 billion, tempering its forecast to reflect weaker demand for COVID-19 vaccines, but added it would return to sales growth in 2025 and break even the following year. The company reported third-quarter sales of $1.8 billion, topping analysts' estimates of $1.32 billion, according to LSEG data. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is its lone marketed product.

Novo Nordisk adding in-house fill-finish capacity for Wegovy's European pen, Ozempic

Novo Nordisk is ramping up its in-house manufacturing capacity to fill injection pens for its diabetes drug Ozempic and for the European version of its hugely popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, a senior executive told Reuters on Thursday. The Danish drugmaker, which has overtaken LVMH as Europe's most valuable listed company, posted record operating profit and sales for the third quarter on Thursday, underscoring the phenomenal success of Wegovy so far.

Cigna raises 2023 profit forecast on lower medical costs

The Cigna Group raised its full-year profit forecast on Thursday, banking on strength in its pharmacy benefit unit and lower-than-expected insurance claims. Health insurers had warned of a jump in medical costs earlier this year as older adults return to hospitals for elective surgeries that were delayed during the pandemic.

Lilly cuts annual profit view on M&A charges; Mounjaro boosts Q3 sales

Eli Lilly on Thursday cut its annual profit outlook on charges related to recent acquisitions, and beat quarterly sales estimates driven by strong demand for its new blockbuster diabetes drug, Mounjaro. Lilly shares have rallied over 60% this year to make it the world's most valuable healthcare company by market cap as investors bet on Mounjaro's success.