Novo Nordisk A/S Q1 2024 Earnings Call Transcript

Quartr
Provided by Quartr
May 2, 2024

There are 19 speakers on the call.

Operator

Good day and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Q1 20 24 Novo Nordisk AS Earnings Conference Call. Please be advised that today's conference is being recorded. I would now like to turn the conference over to your speaker today, Daniel Vosin, CVP, Investor Relations. Please go ahead, sir.

Speaker 1

Thank you. Welcome to this Novo Nordisk earnings call for the 1st 3 months of 2024. My name is Daniel Muschmann Boesen and I'm the Head of Investor Relations at Novo Nordisk. With me today, I have CEO of Novo Nordisk, Lars Vork OR Jansen Executive Vice President and Head of Commercial Strategy and Corporate Affairs, Camilla Silvest Executive Vice President and Head of North America Operations, Doug Langer Executive Vice President and Head of Development, Martin Holz Lange and finally, Chief Financial Officer, Carsten Munk Knutsen. All speakers will be available for the Q and A session.

Speaker 1

Today's announcement and the slides for this call are available on our website, nuvonordis.com. Please note that this call is being webcasted live and a recording will be made available on our website as well. The call is scheduled to last 1 hour. Please turn to the next slide. The presentation is structured as outlined on Slide 2.

Speaker 1

Please note that all sales and operating profit growth statement will be at constant exchange rate unless otherwise specified. Please turn to the next slide. We need to advise you that this call will contain forward looking statements. These are subject to risk and uncertainty that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. For further information on the risk factors, please see the company announcement for the 1st 3 months of 2024 and the slides prepared for this presentation.

Speaker 1

With that, over to you, Lars, for an update on our strategic aspirations.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Daniel. Please turn to next slide. In the 1st 3 months, we have delivered 24% sales growth and 30% operating profit growth. Furthermore, we have raised the outlook for the full year. I'd like to start this call by going through the performance highlights across our strategic aspirations before handing over the word to my colleagues.

Speaker 2

Starting with our focus on purpose and sustainability, we are now serving almost 42,000,000 patients with our diabetes and obesity treatments. Our total emission rose by 32% as compared to the Q1 of 2023. This was primarily driven by our increased investments in capital expenditure to meet the high demand for our products. Compared to the Q1 of 2019, carbon emissions from operations and transportation decreased by 31%. To uphold our commitment to being a sustainable employer, we expanded the number of women in senior leadership positions to 41% compared with 39% in the Q1 of 2023.

Speaker 2

Then R and D, we are pleased with the successful completion of the FLOW kidney outcomes trial and approval of the VIGOVID label expansion in the U. S. Based on the select cardiovascular outcomes trial. Martin will come back to this and our overall R and D milestones later. We also announced the agreement to acquire 3 field Finnish sites from Nova Holdings in connection with a transaction where Nova Holdings has agreed to acquire Catalent.

Speaker 2

This is expected to enable us to reach many more people living with serious chronic diseases. The quarter sales growth reflects solid commercial execution across operating units. Both operating units contributed to sales growth, driven by demand for our G1 treatments for both diabetes and obesity. Camilla and Doug will go through the details per therapy area later. Carsten will go through the financials, but I'm very pleased with the performance so far this year.

Speaker 2

Now I'd like to hand the word over to Camilla, who will give us an update on the commercial execution.

Speaker 3

Thank you, Lars, and please turn to the next slide. In the 1st 3 months of 2024, our total sales increased by 24 percent. The sales growth was driven by both operating units with North America operations growing 35% and international operations growing 11%. In the U. S, sales growth was positively impacted by gross to net sales adjustments related to prior years.

Speaker 3

Our GLP-one sales in diabetes increased 32%, driven by North America operations growing 37% and international operations growing 22%. Intervaline sales increased by 9% driven by North America operations growing 23% and international operations growing 5%. Obesity Care sales increased 42%, driven by North America operations growing 44% and international operations growing 35%. In both geographies, growth was driven by Vgovi, partly offset by declining Saxenda sales. Doc will talk more about North America obesity performance, but in IO, Wegovy sales exceeded DKK 1,000,000,000 in the quarter.

Speaker 3

We continue to roll out V Gobi in a sustainable manner with volume cap launches to balance supply and demand. Rare disease sales decreased by 3%, which Doug will also speak more to later. Please turn to the next slide. With 24% sales growth in Diabetes Care, we are growing faster than the total diabetes market. As a result, our global diabetes value market share increased to 34%, which is above our strategic aspiration of reaching 1 third of the global diabetes value market in 2025.

Speaker 3

The increase reflects market share gains in both North America operations and international operations. In international operations please turn to the next slide. In international operations, Diabetes Care sales increased by 12% in the 1st 3 months of 2024, which was primarily driven by GLP-one sales growing 22%. Novo Nordisk is the market leader in international operations with a GLP-one value market share of around 70%. Ozempic continues its GLP-one market leadership with 47.2% market share.

Speaker 3

We are also pleased to see Rybelsus increasing its market share to around 15% driven by solid uptake across geographies. And with that, I will hand over the word to Doug.

Speaker 4

Thank you, Camilla. Please turn to the next slide. Sales in North America is driven by healthy prescription volume growth of the GLP-one class of around 15% in the Q1 of 2024 compared to the Q1 of 2023. Novo Nordisk is taking market share, meaning we are growing more than the market, fueled by our strategic GLP-one brands of Ozempic and Rybelsus. Measured on total prescriptions, Novo Nordisk continues to be the market leader with around 56% market share.

Speaker 4

Sales growth of Ozempic was negatively impacted by periodic supply constraints in the beginning of Q1. Please go to the next slide. To safeguard continuity of care for Wegovy, we reduced the release of lower dose strengths in May of 2023, which continued throughout the remainder of last year. In the beginning of this year, we gradually started increasing the supply of the lower dose strengths. I am pleased to see that this has been reflected in prescriptions and we are now seeing more than 27,000 new to brand prescriptions and approaching the peak total prescriptions seen last year.

Speaker 4

Wegovy still has broad market access with more than 50,000,000 covered lives And importantly, around 10,000,000 vulnerable patients have access to Wegovy via Medicaid in more than 15 states. Following expanding market access and our focus on reaching more patients, wegovy net prices declined in the Q1. While we continue to gradually increase the overall supply throughout the rest of 2024, our primary focus remains on ensuring continuity of care for patients who have already initiated treatment. Next slide, please. Our rare disease sales decreased by 3%.

Speaker 4

Sales in international operations declined by 18%. This was partly offset by a 20% sales increase in North America operations, reflecting the launch of Sigroya and positive gross to net adjustments related to prior years in the U. S. Sales of rare blood disorders decreased by 4%, driven by NovoSeven and hemophilia A products, partly countered by increased hemophilia B sales. Sales of rare endocrine disorder products increased by 1%.

Speaker 4

We are working on reestablishing full supply of rare endocrine disorder products following a reduction of manufacturing output in 20222023. Now with that, over to you Martin for an update on R and D.

Speaker 5

Thank you, Doug. Please turn to the next slide. In March, we announced that the FDA has approved a label expansion for WIGLOI with the indication of reducing risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, abbreviated MACE. MACE includes cardiovascular death, non fatal heart attack and non fatal stroke in adults with either obesity sorry, overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease. The approval is based on the select cardiovascular outcomes trial, which demonstrated for the primary endpoint that semaglutide 2.4 milligram reduced the risk of MACE by 20% compared to placebo when added to standard of care.

Speaker 5

In addition to the cardiovascular indication, the label also is updated to include that risk reduction in MACE was achieved regardless of baseline age, sex, race, ethnicity, body mass index and level of renal function impairment. Cardiovascular death superiority was not confirmed and thus the testing hierarchy was stopped. However, the label update does include data on the numerical risk reduction in cardiovascular death by 15% and a statistically significant risk reduction of death from any cause by 19%, both compared to placebo. In the clinical pharmacological section, the label now also describes that the exact mechanism of cardiovascular risk reduction has not been established, reflecting that the beneficial CV effects of semaglutide is not associated with weight loss alone. The approval of the WIGOI label expansion for the indication of reducing MACE in the U.

Speaker 5

S. Is an important milestone for people living with obesity and cardiovascular disease. The select data demonstrate that somagnetide 2.4 milligram healthy potential to prolong lives by addressing some of the leading causes of preventable death by, for example, reducing the risk of cardiovascular events. Next slide, please. In March of 2024, Novo Nordisk acquired Qajoh Pharmaceuticals.

Speaker 5

The agreement includes Cardio's lead compound CDR132L, currently in Phase II clinical development for treatment of heart failure. CDR132L is a synthetic antisense oligonucleotide and is a disease modifying therapy designed to halt or partially reverse cellular pathology in the heart by targeting microRNA-1 hundred and thirty two. With this distinct mode of action, CDR132L has the potential to become a 1st in class therapy for long lasting improvements of heart function. A second Phase 2 trial is planned and will investigate CDR132L in a broader chronic heart failure population with left ventricular hypertrophy. This acquisition is in line with our strategic aspiration of establishing a presence in cardiovascular disease and emerging therapy areas.

Speaker 5

Next slide please. As we shift our focus to the upcoming R and D milestones, there are many exciting approvals, trial initiations and trial completions to watch out for. Allow me to go through a few key milestones from the Q1 of 2024 and touch upon a few upcoming highlights later in 2024. Within diabetes, insulin Icodec under the brand name of Biweekly was recommended for approval for the treatment of diabetes by the European regulatory authorities. We anticipate a final decision from the European Commission within a couple of months, making an exciting milestone for the world's first once weekly basal insulin.

Speaker 5

Of note, an FDA advisory committee meeting for insulin iCotec has been announced to discuss the new drug application. The meeting will focus on the risk benefit profile of iCotec in the treatment of type 1 diabetes and is scheduled for May 24 in due time prior to the action date in July. A weekly is currently approved in both Canada and Switzerland. Further diabetes combined to a Phase 3 trial for icosema was successfully completed. The primary endpoint was met with icosema demonstrating superior reduction in A1c compared to once weekly somagnetide 1.0 milligram in people with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on GLP-one treatment and in need of treatment 0.9 percentage points for semaglutide 1.0 milligram.

Speaker 5

Icosema appeared to have a safe and well tolerated profile and shows the potential to set a new benchmark for once weekly treatment of type 2 diabetes. We expect results from COMBINE 1 in the Q2 of 2024. Also on diabetes, we have successfully completed the FLOW kidney outcomes trial with once weekly injectable somaglutide 1.0 milligram. The trial achieved its primary endpoint by demonstrating a statistically significant and superior reduction in kidney disease progression as well as cardiovascular and kidney death by 24% for people treated with 1.0 milligram compared to placebo. In March, the FLOW data was submitted as a label expansion application to the U.

Speaker 5

S. FDA. Submission to the European regulatory authorities is expected in the second half of twenty twenty four. The full results will be shared at the European Renal Association Congress later this month. We've also successfully completed an exploratory Phase II trial with higher doses of once weekly subcutaneous semaglutide.

Speaker 5

The trial investigated efficacy and tolerability of 8 and 16 milligrams semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes. In the trial, dose response on weight loss was observed and the higher doses of semaglutide appeared to have a safe and well tolerated profile in line with previous semaglutide trials. Semaglutide in higher doses in diabetes are now being evaluated for further clinical development. Moving to obesity care. In the Q1, we've already covered the WIGOI label expansion for approval for cardiovascular risk reduction in the U.

Speaker 5

S. In the Q1, the STEPHEPPEV trials were submitted to U. S. FDA and granted priority review. The FDA also announced that an advisory committee is to be convened in the second half of twenty twenty four to discuss the application.

Speaker 5

In rare disease, we are excited about the expected readout of MiMate Phase 3 in the Q2 of 2024. MiMID is a novel next generation Factor VIII mimetic bispecific antibody with potential for improved patient outcomes and reduced patient burden in treatment of people with hemophilia A. Looking ahead to the second half of twenty twenty four, there are several events of note within diabetes. This includes the relaunch of STRIDE and the SOUL trials as well as Phase II for molnunabant and the initiation of Phase II trial for IMECRETIN. Within obesity, we look forward to the readout of the 1st pivotal trial in Calcusema.

Speaker 5

Lastly, within cardiovascular and emerging therapy areas, we look forward to the readout of the Phase III ESSENCE trial within mesh. With that, over to me, Prasanna.

Speaker 6

Thank you, Martin. Please turn to the next slide. In Q1 2024, our sales grew by 22% in Danish kroner and 24% at constant exchange rates, driven by both operating units. In the U. S, sales growth was positively impacted by growth to net sales adjustments related to prior year.

Speaker 6

The gross margin increased to 84.8% compared to 84.7% in Q1 2023, reflecting a positive price impact due to gross to net sales adjustments in the U. S, a positive product mix due to increased sales of GLP-1 based products. This is partially countered by costs related to ongoing capacity expansions and a negative currency impact. Sales and distribution costs increased by 7% in Danish kroner and by 8% at constant exchange rates, around 20% as percentage of sales. In North America operations, costs are driven by promotional activities related to Wegovy.

Speaker 6

And in international operations, the increase is related to promotional activities for Rybelsus as well as Obesity Care market development activities. Research and development costs increased by 28%, measured both in Danish kroner and at constant exchange rates, amounting to around 13% of sales. Cost increases reflect late stage clinical trial activity and increased early research activities compared to Q1 2023. Administration costs increased by 8%, measured in Danish kroner, and by 9% at constant exchange rates. Operating profit increased by 27%, measured in Danish kroner and by 30% at constant exchange rates, reflecting the sales growth.

Speaker 6

Net financial items showed a net gain of DKK 72,000,000 compared to a net loss of DKK 270,000,000 last year. The effective tax rate was 20.4 percent in the 1st 3 months of 2024 compared to 19.9 percent in the 1st 3 months of 2023. Net profit increased by 28%, and diluted earnings per share increased by 29% to DKK 5.68. Free cash flow realized in the Q1 of 2024 was DKK 5,000,000,000 compared with DKK 24,800,000,000 in the 1st 3 months of 2023. The lower free cash flow phasing of rebates related to lower U.

Speaker 6

S. Gross sales in the Q1 of 2024 compared to the Q4 of 2023. This is combined with reduced insulin list prices, higher taxes paid and increasing capital expenditure towards additional manufacturing capacity. This is partially countered by increased net profit. Capital expenditure for property, plant and equipment was DKK 8,500,000,000 compared with DKK 4,700,000,000 in 2023, primarily reflecting investments in additional capacity for API production and fill finish capacity for both current and future injectable and oral products.

Speaker 6

In February 2024, we announced an agreement to acquire 3 Finisides from Novo Holdings in connection with a transaction where Novo Holdings has agreed to acquire Catalent, a global contract development and manufacturing organization. The fulfillment of various customary closing conditions is progressing, and Novo Nordisk still expects that the acquisition will be completed towards the end of 2020. Please go to the next slide. We continued the growth momentum in 2024 and has increased our sales growth to between 19% 27% at constant exchange rates. This is based on several assumptions as described in the company announcements.

Speaker 6

Of note, the updated sales outlook at constant exchange rates reflect gross to net sales adjustment related to prior years in the U. S. In the Q1. The guidance reflects expectations for sales growth in both North America Operations and International Operations, mainly driven by volume growth of GLT-one based treatments for obesity and diabetes care. With the expectation of continued volume growth and capacity limitations, the outlook also reflects expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications across a number of products and geographies.

Speaker 6

Novo Nordisk is investing in internal and external capacity to increase supply for both short and long term. Operating profit growth is now expected to be between 22% 30% at accounts to exchange rates. The increased expectation for operating profit growth is reflecting the increased sales outlook, partially countered by an expected loss on other operating income and expenses. Capital expenditure is still expected to be around DKK 45,000,000,000 in 2024, reflecting the expansion of the supply chain, including the previously communicated expansions of manufacturing facilities in Denmark and France. The free cash flow is now expected to be between DKK 57,000,000,000 and DKK 67,000,000,000.

Speaker 6

The updated cash flow expectation reflects changes to gross to net sales estimates and related cash flow impacts as well as business development activities, including the planned acquisition of Cardio. That covers the outlook for 2024. Now back to you, Lars.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Carsten. Please turn to the final slide. We are pleased with the sales growth in the 1st 3 months of 2024, driven by increased demand for our GLP-one based diabetes and obesity treatments. More patients benefit from our innovative treatments and the agreement to acquire the 3 Catalent manufacturing sites will enable us to serve significantly more people living with diabetes and obesity in the future. Within R and D, we're pleased with the positive results from the kidney outcomes trial with Select and the label expansion for cardiovascular disease risk reduction for VEGOVI in the U.

Speaker 2

S. With that, back to Daniel.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Lars. Next slide, please. With that, we are now ready for the Q and A session. I kindly ask all participants to limit her or himself to 1 or maximum 2 questions, including any sub questions. Operator, we are now ready to take the first question.

Operator

Thank you. And your first question comes from the line of Michael Nedelukovich from TD Cowen. Please go ahead.

Speaker 7

Thank you for the questions. I have 2. The first is on the guidance range. In every year going back to 2017, the guidance range has been between 3% 6% and often narrowed in the Q1. The fact that this year's guidance range spans 8% is understandable given supply uncertainties, but one might have imagined that management might have some additional clarity by now and possibly have narrowed the range.

Speaker 7

Of course, this implies risk both to the downside and to the upside, but it's hard to interpret persistent uncertainty as a good thing. So to what specifically do you attribute that uncertainty? And then my second question has to do with high dose injectable semaglutide. As you noted, the Phase 2 trial incorporated a 16 milligram dose, which we understood to be a dose intended to find a weight loss plateau in order to dose responsive, but did you find that plateau? And can you give us any sense how much additional weight loss was gained at 8 and 16 milligrams of semaglutide?

Speaker 7

And you also noted that higher doses are now being evaluated for further clinical development, but of course Phase III trials at a 7.2 milligram dose are already nearing completion. Are you contemplating additional trials at even higher doses?

Speaker 4

Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you for the questions, Mike, and thanks for being up early in the morning. Karsten, the first one, guidance range for you and afterwards you, Martin, on the sema max trial?

Speaker 6

Yes. Good morning, Michael. So thank you for looking up our historic ranges. And of course, we do that also when we are assessing. Think it's important to note that as we've seen over the past year or 2, then the run rate we have in terms of very high growth level and volatility has caused us to be a little bit more cautious in terms of guidance ranges, also linked to the very strict regulations we have here as a listed company in Denmark around how to navigate that.

Speaker 6

So I would say there's no additional signals to the guidance range for the Q1. We are on our base plan in terms of running our business and there are no major changes to risks either, I would say, favorably or negatively. We are on track and we like what we see.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Carsten. Martin, over to you.

Speaker 5

Yes. Thank you very much for the question. So I will I'll not comment on the actual data. So we'll disclose them at a later time point. So vis a vis the actual weight loss observed that will be disclosed later on.

Speaker 5

I specifically talked about diabetes when we talked about evaluating further development. You are absolutely right. In obesity, we're currently conducting a Phase III trial. And what we can say at this point is that the data that we've seen from diabetes securing that we remain confident also on higher doses in the obesity space.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Martin, and thank you, Mike, for the questions. We are ready for the next question, please.

Operator

Thank you. I will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Richard Foster from JPMorgan. Please go ahead.

Speaker 8

Hi, thanks for taking my questions. 2, please. First one, just on supply progression in the U. S. And ex U.

Speaker 8

S. For Agovy and Ozempic. I mean, we've seen very good uptake of the starter doses in the U. S. With a substantial ramp.

Speaker 8

Should we anticipate a continued gradual ramp of those doses throughout this year? Is that how we should think about it? Just some more color there on supply and particularly also U. S, I think it was quite weak this quarter. Can that be turned around, particularly in China and some other areas?

Speaker 8

And then just second question on MiMate. Lots of discussion by this, including some of your competitors going into new administration profiles for their products. Perhaps you could remind us a little bit more detail, Martin, of the target product profile so we can put those that into perspective with the tweaks that HEMLIBRA are making when we see them? Thanks very much.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Richard. So Carsten, you start with the supply and we'll then go to margin again like before.

Speaker 6

So on supply and specifically on V Gobi, then it's a pleasure to report that from a starting point around 5,000 NBRx weekly in the U. S. On VIGOVI entering this year. Now we are in excess of 25,000. So more than 5x compared to where we started this year.

Speaker 6

And clearly, that is a sign of supply chain operating and running and building inventories and supplying the market because our strategy is to supply starter doses to patients who are then who should then be able to titrate up through the dose regime. So on that front, that is you should see that as confidence in scaling. We're not guiding for the full year specifically on NBRx. I think generally speaking, guiding on NBRx is a tricky discipline. But I would say that implicitly in our guidance for the full year, when you look at the midpoint compared to Q1 performance, then that uptick or that acceleration in growth is driven by continued Wegovy expansion in the U.

Speaker 6

S. And there you should see look at TRx ramp over the year, but also continued launches in volume cap launches in IO. So, Vicovi is key to growth accelerating for the remainder of the year.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Carsten. Martin on MiMate?

Speaker 5

Yes. Thanks very much, Richard. And you're absolutely right. We are only a few weeks away from the readout of MiMate, that's going to be exciting. What our target profile is reflecting is obviously and as we discussed and also pass the efficacy, primary endpoint is annual bleeding rate.

Speaker 5

And looking at the median, if you expect more than 50% of people having no bleeds, the APR will be 0. So we had to look at the proportion of patients with no bleeds throughout a year. And that's where we will see MyMID potentially having a very competitive profile. We expect to see an attractive safety profile and then we expect to be able to demonstrate that MiMID regardless of those will have a true monthly profile, which obviously gives a great convenience benefit for patients. At the same time, Mymid will be delivered in an easy to use, very intuitive device and with an injection volume that is pain free.

Speaker 5

So potential upsides on efficacy, good safety profile and a clear convenience and injection pain upside.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Martin. Thank you, Richard for the question. We are ready to take the next question please.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to our next question. One moment please. Your next question comes from the line of Louise Chen from Cantor. Please go ahead.

Speaker 9

Okay. Thank you for taking my question. I just wanted to ask you for Select, has the approval actually helped you gain better coverage of some of glutai with your payers? And then secondly, on your ESSA's NASH data, we've received a lot of questions on that. I'm curious what you feel would be a good outcome to give you confidence that you have a commercially competitive drug?

Speaker 9

And prior you had said it was end of the year for read up, but now it reads that it's coming out in second half twenty twenty. I didn't know if there was an acceleration in the time line. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Luis. Doc, select and the implications for the U. S. Market? Yes.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Luis. And maybe as

Speaker 4

a starting point, it's probably good to remind you that currently we have over 50,000,000 people that we're covering living with obesity. Now there's still room to grow and certainly that's our ambition, but we're pleased with the level of access today. And again, I think it's also important that as you know in March, wegovy was the label was expanded based on select data trial and to become the only I repeat the only AOM with proven CV benefit. And we've already seen an impact of the label update with CMS allowing for reimbursement in Medicare Part D for AOMs with a CV indication. So we're pleased with that.

Speaker 4

Now there's still some work to do with plan sponsors on the exact criteria of reimbursement. And so we think the uptake will be gradual, a couple of million today. But overall, we're pleased with the level of access, and we think we're going to take advantage of Select moving forward.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Doug. Martin on NASH.

Speaker 5

Yes. Thank you very much. So as a reminder, the ASHENS trial is in 2 part. First 800 patients treated for 72 weeks will be which will be the regulatory trial. Here the primary endpoint is liver biopsy assessment of steatosis and fibrosis.

Speaker 5

And what we hope to see is basically what we saw in our pretty large Phase II trial, where we saw a significant and clinically relevant improvement in steatosis and also clinically relevant improvement in fibrosis. If we see the same level in Phase 3, we would be looking at a very attractive profile. This is also what allowed the FDA to grant us breakthrough designation based on the Phase 2 data. And then in addition, we are extending this study to an additional couple of 100 patients where we will continue treatment to look for heart outcomes. So basically both liver related and also cardiovascular heart outcomes also to cater to the broader both clinical as well

Speaker 1

as payer discussions. Thank you, Martin. We are now ready for the next question.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Evan Zijerman from BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Speaker 10

Hi all. Thank you so much for taking my question and congrats on all the progress. Can you walk me through some of the expected pricing dynamics for Wegovy in the United States.

Speaker 7

And I'm

Speaker 10

asking this in the context of why are you necessarily giving price given that supply is constrained and the demand is so high? Maybe walk me through how you're thinking about how this will evolve over the next few quarters? Thank you so much.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Evan. So Lars, will you give that a go?

Speaker 2

Yes. So thank you for that question. So we strongly believe in the value of our GLP-one products and we just spoke about some of the very nice outcomes data we have achieved. So we have a situation where we are gradually increasing access to more and more, say, channels of the market, which comes some of those with a lower price. So it's really a sign of us reaching more and more patients and also some of the more vulnerable patients that's impacting the pricing dynamics.

Speaker 2

We see an overall stable competitive environment. And with the volume opportunity we have at hand, that significantly outweighs what we see in terms of lower price points in some of these additional channels. So strong belief in the value of our products, but also a wish to treat more and more patients. And some of those come at a slightly lower price point than what we launched at Sohu. Thank you.

Speaker 1

You're last. Thank you, Evan, for the question. We're ready for the next question.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Sachin Jain from Bank of America. Please go ahead.

Speaker 11

Hi, Sachin Jain, Bank of America. 2 for Martin, if I may. Firstly, back on MIM-eight and the zero bleed rate you referenced, Martin. I think at the CMD, you referenced a 70% 0 bleed rate post hop analysis. I think Hemlibra has got about 50% 0bleeds on the label, but Roche quotes 80% to 9% in real life.

Speaker 11

So given the sort of various benchmarks, just what the 0 bleed rate for you as an absolute number confirms a superior profile versus HEMLIBRA with a candidate of cross trial comparisons? The second question is on amapritin. And maybe I misunderstood and perhaps I didn't hear your commentary correctly. You've referenced a Phase 2 start towards the end of this year. From the CMD, I thought you were awaiting the subcut data early next year and diabetes data next year before potential Phase III start.

Speaker 11

Did I misunderstand that the CMD or has something changed since then? Thank you.

Speaker 1

So thank you, Sachin. 2 for you, Martin, first on MiMate and then on Amacretion timelines. Yes. Thank you very much, Sachin.

Speaker 5

So first of all, on MiMate, obviously, I can only compare the regulatory data and what is in the label. And I think you're right, what we've seen so far in our clinical trials is slightly in excess of 70% of patients with no bleeds, which obviously that is also confirmed in Phase III will be a very competitive profile. So this is what we're looking for. And then again, you had to compare like to like, so the regulatory studies. On amicretin, I don't think you misunderstood anything.

Speaker 5

We, for better or worse, had to focus from a regulatory perspective on obesity and diabetes as 2 distinct entities. And for obesity, we are currently in the process of finalizing the subcutaneous Phase 1 and then we'll look at how to further progress amicretin in obesity. For type 2 diabetes, we are currently in the process of conducting a Phase study to understand the potential of amitretin in type 2 diabetes.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Martin. Thank you, Sachin. We are ready for the next question.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. And your next question comes from the line of Peter Verdult from Citi. Please go ahead.

Speaker 12

It's Pete Verdult here from Citi. Just two questions, favorite topics for you both supply and pricing, sorry, to test your patience. But starting with Carsten, you've consistently stated that scaling supply is management's number one priority. With that in mind, can we peak it a little bit more beyond 2024? When we think about you opening the taps and quadrupling starter doses for Wegovy, Is that a nod to supply capacity in 2025 being a multiple of 2024?

Speaker 12

I realize I'm pushing my luck here, but some sense would be helpful. And then just for Lars or Camilla, I mean, we're seeing with Flow and Select and HFEPEF, the data support increasing use of Sema continues to grow, but we are also now seeing the backlash, political heat in the U. S. Danish authorities wanting to step out of Ozempic after SGLT2, lowering the price of Ozempic 30% in Denmark. So the question is just to sort of follow on from the previous one.

Speaker 12

I'm not interested in pricing for the next few quarters, but how do you think about just the dynamics going forward as people try and manage their budgets? I mean, the demand

Speaker 13

is clearly there. Is it

Speaker 12

a case where you we should expect a step up in pricing erosion, but put simply the volume opportunity is so great that any pricing concerns get fully offset. I just want to understand how you are thinking about that dynamic. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thanks, Pete. So first, Karsten, Pete pushing his lock on supply in the coming years.

Speaker 6

Yes. So guiding for supply in 2025 at the Q1 call 2024, I think, is stretching it a bit. So let me give you a couple of boundaries. So from a finished point of view, then we continue to scale the single dose platform that we have launched in the U. S.

Speaker 6

So that is ongoing and something we're driving each and every day. So of course, we'll continue to scale that. And then on top of that, which we're also out saying today that as of now, we have launched in 9 countries beyond the U. S, BIGOVY. So the ramp up ex U.

Speaker 6

S. Is will also be taking pace over this year, but also into next year. So net net, yes, there will be a good ramp into 2025. The exact amount and factors and all that we'll have to get back to you on that one at a later point in time.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Carsten. Lars? Yes. Thanks, Pete, for the question on how we see the pricing dynamics. I would say when we launched semaglutide both in type 2 diabetes and in obesity, it was into an established price point in the market.

Speaker 2

And we launched that at similar pricing as prior generations, despite the fact of a significantly better clinical profile. And obviously, that was an attractive value proposition and that has led to significant volume growth because of the benefits. And right now, we have a situation where you can say both that volume is to some degree putting strains on health care systems. But at the same time, we are just starting to unfold the full value of patients being on this treatment. And these same health care systems are significantly burdened by chronic diseases and many of them linked to the expected diseases we're trying here which we're treating here.

Speaker 2

So I think I'm optimistic about how we can communicate the value to health care systems of these interventions. I'm very optimistic about the underlying, say, willingness among both patients and physicians to use these medicines. And then, of course, we see very different markets. In the U. S, we see typically year over year a slight erosion in net price.

Speaker 2

In other markets, it's more of a stable nature and you have sometimes one offs. So in that overall equation, I'm actually very confident that we can manage to articulate the value of medicines at a price point that's also understood by the health care systems. And with the continued volume opportunity, this turns into a very attractive commercial model. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Lars, and thanks, Pete, for the questions. We are ready for the next question.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to your next question. One moment please. And your next question comes from the line of Simon Baker from Redburn Atlantic. Please go ahead.

Speaker 14

Thank you for taking my questions. Firstly, another one on pricing, if I may. Lars, you indicated that the pricing impact that you've seen in Q1 is effectively channel mix. I just wonder if you could confirm that and a portion that the amount of pricing that is down to channel mix and how much is down to pricing reductions within specific channels? And then the second question on a completely different subject.

Speaker 14

I just wonder if you could give us any commentary on the FTC's recent challenge to Orange Book patent listing, of which you were one of the named companies. Any idea on the timeline over which this will play out? Thanks so much.

Speaker 1

Good. Thank you, Simon. So Carsten, I think I'll give both of them to you. The first, the pricing in Q1 and then the second, the FTC challenge of patents.

Speaker 6

Yes. Simon, thanks for these questions. So as we've been out saying earlier on, then one should always be careful of over interrupting pricing in individual quarters. So to be more specific, then on Ozempic, like for like, we do see continued reduction in price. And then yes, we have some growth to net benefit in the Q1.

Speaker 6

But over the full year, you should like for like see a net price reduction for Ozempic in the U. S. And the same goes for Vigovia, back to the volume opportunity. But net net, given increasing volume and competition, net pricing like for like will be down in the U. S.

Speaker 6

And then as to the FTC letter on patents, I believe that was the question.

Speaker 1

That was the question, yes.

Speaker 6

So the FTC question on the patents. It's important to note, first of all, the patents in question are related to Ozempic, Victoza and Saxenda, but we're talking about device patents, first of all. And we're talking about patents that are valid and granted by the U. S. Patent Office.

Speaker 6

The question is all about whether they should be listed in the orange book or not. And of course, when we listed the patents, we carefully assessed whether we are following the appropriate protocol per and sort guidance and feedback on that. So, overall, we believe that what we have done is appropriate, but of course, will follow the regulations as issued by the FDA. Thank you, Carsten.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Simon. And we are ready for the next question, please.

Operator

Thank you. We will now go to the next question. One moment please. And your next question comes from the line of Florent Cespedes from Bernstein. Please go ahead.

Speaker 13

Good afternoon. Thank you very much for taking my questions. Two quick ones. The first, basically in Europe, could you give us an update on the situation in Europe for Govee and the discussions with the payers if they are waiting for a select that pool on the label. So some color on this front would be great.

Speaker 13

My second question for Carsten. On sales and distribution, could you give us some color on how you see this line going forward as it was much lower than expected this quarter? Apparently, it's related to the fact that you have less promotion efforts. So some colors would be great. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Florent. Camilla, the first question to you, we go outside the U. S.

Speaker 3

Yes. And you also asked specifically about whether they're waiting for Select. Of course, we are initially waiting for the regulatory decision on Select, which we expect in the second half of this year. Having said that, there is, of course, a keen interest in this set of data. But already now we do have reimbursement in a number of countries outside the U.

Speaker 3

S. So U. K, Scotland, Canada sorry, Japan and also Switzerland. So we are seeing a very positive interest in the GOVI and of course also in the select data that shows a strong cost effectiveness.

Speaker 1

Thank you. Camilla, Carstenen. Is it decost development?

Speaker 6

Commercial Investments, yes. So coming back to our recent Capital Markets Day and our strategic resource allocation, then what I was discussing there was our intent to allocate substantial resources towards innovation, I. E, R and D. So having an increasing R and D ratio, I. E, e.

Speaker 6

Investments that are growing faster than sales and our commercial investments growing at a slower pace than sales. And that is exactly what you're seeing this quarter and also what you should expect to be seeing this year that commercial investments are growing slower than sales. We have the majority of our commercial infrastructure in place across our therapeutic categories. So what we are pursuing are really targeted investments. I'd say a lot of focus on obesity market development and building the obesity market.

Speaker 6

And then we also have some early investments in some of our newer therapy areas, so building some infrastructure on the cardiovascular side. So that are really the main focus areas on commercial investments.

Speaker 13

Thank you very much. Very clear.

Speaker 1

And we are ready for the next question, please.

Operator

Thank you. Your next question comes from the line of Marc Purcell from Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.

Speaker 15

Yes, thank you very much for taking my questions. I have 2. The first one is just going back to the Wegovy U. S. Starting dose.

Speaker 15

The pace of growth at the moment seems to be increasing a bit. It's about 10% week over week, now up to 33,000.25 milligram doses per week. Should we assume that this sort of increase will continue to be steady? Or is there going to be a slowdown in that 10% growth week over week? And your confidence in converting to the high doses would be helpful.

Speaker 15

And then the second question is on the Kaguasoma jaw chamber device. I wonder if you could help us understand some of the properties of this device in terms of whether it's connected and the importance in terms of patient compliance potentially from it being a connected device, the launch preparedness and any indications of the co formulation of KagriSEMO, what does that mean for the dual chamber device? Thank you.

Speaker 1

Good. So the first question over to you, Doug, for the commercial dynamics right now with Wegovy in the U. S.

Speaker 4

Yes. Thanks, Mark. I mean, we're certainly pleased with the last couple of weeks of NBRx. As I stated in the beginning, over 27,000 and reaching all time high with TRx. But remember, as I talked about quarter over quarter, our key focus remains the safeguarding of patient continuity of care.

Speaker 4

And we manage that supply dynamically to do that. So we're going to continue to gradually scale efforts, and we're going to do that throughout the remainder of this year. And certainly, we're happy and pleased with what we're seeing now, and we're very pleased with Select and what we're going to

Speaker 7

be able to do moving forward.

Speaker 1

Good. Thank you, Doug. Martin, Carcquecemia device and connectivity.

Speaker 5

Yes. So very briefly, the Carcquecemia device, as you say, it is a dual chamber device as the 2 drugs can currently not be co formulated. And it's a single dose device, very simple to use. So basically, you should compare that to the device of WIGO. We currently know connectivity embedded in that device.

Speaker 5

On the question on co formulation, obviously, with a dual chamber device, that's not our normal platform. The co formulation will allow us more flexibility in that we can then deliver Kegrozema in more versions, one could potentially be in FlexTouch, thereby from a supply perspective allowing us most flexibility.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Martin. Thanks for the question. We are ready for the next.

Operator

Thank you. We will now take your next question. And your next question comes from the line of Harry Sefton from UBS. Please go ahead.

Speaker 1

Brilliant. Thank you very

Speaker 16

much for taking my questions. 2, please. So on the first question is whether you saw any material impact to your Q1 volumes in the U. S. From the cyber attack on UnitedHealth's change payments platform that may have restricted some patients' access to co pay support and as a result could have contributed to some weakness on volumes beyond just the supply constraints?

Speaker 16

And then my second question is you've talked about the fact that the ex U. S. Obesity market could be predominantly self pay in the future. How do you view the potential Thank you, Harry. Doug

Speaker 1

Thank you, Harry. Doug, 2 for you. First on cyber attack impact potential impact in the Q1? And then second, do you see a self pay market in the U. S?

Speaker 4

Yes. Thanks, Mark or excuse me. Thanks, Harry. Nothing material. It doesn't explain the volumes.

Speaker 4

Just maybe give you a little context there. Again, remember, speaking to Ozempic, we saw a 50% over a 50% growth rate in the quarter. We continue to gain market share, which is important and we're clearly the market share leader. But we did see some impacts in the quarter. Pure ag supply constraints and they were primarily in the early part of the year.

Speaker 4

Remember, we have a larger base. Last year, the volume growth was 50% And we do see some continuation of utilization management. So those would be more in line with what impacted some of the volumes. In terms of self pay, the way I would categorize that is we're always looking at as opportunities to bring more patients to our products and that could be an option. So we evaluate everything moving forward.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Doug. And specifically also the cyber attack, did you see any impact from that in the Q1?

Speaker 4

Yes, nothing material and that wouldn't explain the volumes.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Doug and thank you, Harry.

Operator

Thank you.

Speaker 1

We're ready for the next question.

Operator

Thank you. We'll now take your next question. And your next question is from Richard Park. Please go ahead.

Speaker 4

Thanks for taking my questions.

Speaker 17

So yes, just two questions. Firstly, on melunavant, the Phase 2 data. I'm just wondering if there's going to be anything you can generate from that Phase 2 trial to give some comfort on the risk of psychiatric side effects, given the class, I. E, any data on confirmation the drug doesn't cross the blood brain barrier to a material degree? Or should we just expect standard sort of Phase 2 readout?

Speaker 17

And then secondly, just sort of playing devil's advocate on the commentary around value to Healthcare Systems from Wegovy.

Speaker 5

Obviously, some of

Speaker 17

the arguments for that are based on stay time in the select study of 3.5 years. But what we're seeing in the real world at the moment is less than 12 months in terms of median duration. So for payers' perspective, there's a risk that they get all of the upfront cost without generating savings if they can't keep patients on drugs. So I'm just wondering, is that a pushback that you often get and how you address that in your discussions with payers? Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Richard. So Martin, the first one to you and Lars will give the second one to you.

Speaker 5

Yes. Thank you very much. So I think you're right. We are quite excited about on Lunabrand and the potential because we've seen potential for substantial weight loss with a scalable oral and that is of course very exciting. However, we had to rule out potential safety issues.

Speaker 5

The ongoing Phase 2 trial will give us a good readout on the efficacy and it will also give us a reasonable readout of the safety profile of manlunabant. However, to fully derisk this, we intend to investigate this as we already announced in a somewhat larger study to secure that both obviously our efficacy, but but certainly also our safety assessment of this is right. So you'll get a good first readout from the ongoing Phase 2 trial, but you'll see even more from the next?

Speaker 2

Yes. Thank you. So fair challenge on the stay time. It's still early days. We are pleased with the stay time we see.

Speaker 2

But I think it's also fair to say that we have not had a sustainable market presence to really be able to tell what will the stay time be. I think it's also a dynamic situation in terms of understanding what is obesity and what's the value of treating obesity. So we believe over time that we'll see, say, enough patients getting to the durable weight loss that will also translate into real health benefits. But of course, it takes time to establish those data. And we have simply not been in the market long enough to document that.

Speaker 2

So but I think it will be possible to do that. Thank you.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Lars. Thank you, Richard, for the questions. We have time for one final brief question.

Operator

Thank you. We will now take your final question. One moment please. Comes from the line of Michael Novo from Nordea. Please go ahead.

Speaker 18

You very much. Michael from Nordea. So going back to the CMS guidance and some of the access you are getting, can you comment on how many of the insurance companies are following CMS guidance? And also in that connection, how do you see then the potential progress for the TRO Act in the U. S?

Speaker 18

Could something happen in 2024 or 2025?

Speaker 1

Thank you, Michael. Doug, over to you for the last answer.

Speaker 4

Thank you, Michael. So we're seeing a couple of million, you could say it around 4,000,000 lives today that we're seeing as a result of the impact of the label update with CMS allowing for reimbursement in Medicare Part D. And again, this is going to be gradual, right? There's still some work to do, as I mentioned earlier, with plan sponsors to the exact criteria of reimbursement. So it's going to be gradual, but we certainly see this as a very positive step in the right direction.

Speaker 4

And it's certainly encouraging. Now as far as Troa, again, as I've said many quarters, we're not going to I'm not going to get into the predicting game. But again, we think it's just a matter of time. Certainly, there's support on both sides. So we still think it's just a matter of time.

Speaker 4

So we're positive. I just I can't give an indication as to when, but we're hard at work there as well.

Speaker 1

Thank you, Dox. Thank you, Michael. And this concludes the Q and A session for this earnings call. Thank you for participating and please feel free to contact Investor Relations as always regarding any follow-up questions you might have. Before we close the call, I would like to hand over to you Lars for the final remarks.

Speaker 2

Yes. Thank you, Daniel, and thank you all for joining us today. So I hope it comes across that we're very pleased with the momentum of our business right now as evidenced by the sales performance in the 1st 3 months. And not least, the development in script for both Ozempic and Wegovy in the U. S.

Speaker 2

Really proving that we are on track of scaling supplies here during the year, but also our commitment to scale supply significantly for the coming years to treat even more patients. We're also excited about our pipeline progress and what we have coming up in terms of MiMait and KAKISIMA. And on a final note, I'd like to thank you, Daniel. This was the last quarter with you at Helmut as IR Head. Thank you for your leadership and best of luck with your continued career in Novo Nordisk.

Speaker 2

With this, we close the call. Thank you all.

Operator

Thank you. This concludes today's conference call. Thanks for participating. You may now disconnect.

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Key Takeaways

  • Robust Q1 performance: Sales rose 24% and operating profit grew 30%, leading Novo Nordisk to raise its full-year outlook on continued strong demand for its GLP-1 diabetes and obesity treatments.
  • Commercial momentum: North America sales jumped 35% and International sales 11%, with GLP-1 diabetes revenue up 32% and obesity care up 42% as Ozempic and Wegovy gains outweighed Saxenda declines.
  • Key R&D milestones: The FDA approved Wegovy’s label expansion to reduce major cardiovascular events, the FLOW kidney trial met its primary endpoint, and Novo Nordisk acquired Qajoh’s CDR132L heart failure candidate.
  • Capacity investments: Q1 capex reached DKK 8.5 billion and the company maintains a DKK 45 billion full-year capex plan, including acquiring three Catalent sites, to alleviate supply constraints amid ongoing volume-cap launches.
  • Healthy financials: Gross margin held at 84.8%, R&D spend climbed 28%, net profit was up 28% and diluted EPS rose 29% to DKK 5.68, with free cash flow still expected between DKK 57–67 billion despite higher taxes and investments.
AI Generated. May Contain Errors.
Earnings Conference Call
Novo Nordisk A/S Q1 2024
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