Ozempic Study Shakes Up Market for Kidney and Insulin Treatments

By
Bill McColl
Bill McColl
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Bill McColl has 25+ years of experience as a senior producer and writer for TV, radio, and digital media leading teams of anchors, reporters, and editors in creating news broadcasts, covering some of the most notable news stories of the time.

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Published October 11, 2023
An Ozempic (semaglutide) injection pen

NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

  • An Ozempic study for the treatment of chronic kidney disease was halted early after showing early signs of success, sending Novo Nordisk ADRs higher and shares of dialysis machine and insulin pump makers lower.
  • An independent review board recommended the trial be stopped almost a year ahead of schedule because of positive interim results.
  • Demand for Ozempic and Novo Nordisk's sister diabetes drug, Wegovy, are already booming in popularity as weight-loss treatments.

American depositary receipts (ADRs) of Novo Nordisk (NVO) jumped over 6% in early trading on Wednesday, while shares of kidney dialysis machine and insulin pump makers tumbled, after the drug maker halted a test of its Ozempic diabetes medicine because of its early success in treating kidney problems.

Novo Nordisk reported that a recommendation from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) suggested the trial be shut down almost a year early because of positive interim results that met pre-set criteria.

The study was designed to see if the key ingredient in Ozempic, semaglutide, could delay the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and lower the risk of kidney and cardiovascular death in those who suffer from diabetes and CKD.

Novo Nordisk indicated that because of the DMC decision, it will begin the process of closing the trial. It added that the results are expected to be released in the first half of next year. 

Demand for Ozempic, and Novo Nordisk’s sister diabetes medicine, Wegovy, has skyrocketed as the drugs have shown effectiveness as a weight-loss treatment. A report in August found that Wegovy was successful in reducing heart attacks and stroke as well. It also contains semaglutide.

Novo Nordisk ADRs traded near their all-time high reached a month ago. Shares of dialysis machine manufacturers DaVita (DVA) and Baxter International (BAX) sank, along with shares of insulin pump makers DexCom (DXCM) and Insulet (PODD).

DVA, BAX, PODD, DVA, NVO

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  1. Novo Nordisk. "Novo Nordisk will stop the once-weekly injectable semaglutide kidney outcomes trial, FLOW, based on interim analysis."

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