Novo Nordisk increased operating profit in Danish kroner by 57% in the first six months of 2015 to DKK 26.3 billion

16% local currency operating profit growth adjusted for the NNIT divestment

Sales increased by 25% in Danish kroner and by 9% in local currencies to DKK 52.3 billion. 

• Sales of Victoza® increased by 41% (22% in local currencies).
• Sales of Levemir® increased by 28% (10% in local currencies).
• Sales in North America increased by 35% (10% in local currencies).
• Sales in International Operations increased by 26% (17% in local currencies).
• Sales in Region China increased by 25% (3% in local currencies). 

Gross margin improved by 2.2 percentage points in Danish kroner to 85.2% driven by a positive currency impact and product mix.

Operating profit increased by 57% in Danish kroner and by 30% in local currencies to DKK 26.3 billion. Adjusted for the DKK 2.4 billion non-recurring income related to the partial divestment of NNIT, operating profit in local currencies increased by 16%.

Net profit increased by 35% to DKK 18.2 billion. Diluted earnings per share increased by 38% to DKK 7.02. Adjusted for the partial divestment of NNIT, net profit and diluted earnings per share increased by 20% and 22% respectively.

In July, Novo Nordisk announced the successful completion of the first phase 3a trial with semaglutide, a new GLP-1 analogue to be administered subcutaneously once weekly.

Novo Nordisk successfully completed the first phase 3a trial with liraglutide as adjunct therapy to insulin for people with type 1 diabetes, in July. 

For 2015, sales growth measured in local currencies is still expected to be 7-9%, whereas operating profit growth measured in local currencies is raised by two percentage points and now expected to be around 19%.

Lars Rebien Sørensen, President and CEO: "We are satisfied with the results of the first six months of 2015, during which Victoza® and Levemir® continued to drive sales growth. In the second quarter, we have successfully launched NovoEight® and Saxenda® in the US and announced positive results from the first phase 3a trial for semaglutide, our once-weekly GLP-1 analogue."

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