NVO Receives FDA Approval for MASH Therapy: ETFs Expected to Benefit
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Aug 19 2025
0mins
Should l Buy NVO?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Wegovy Approval: Novo Nordisk's obesity drug, Wegovy, received accelerated FDA approval to treat metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), marking it as the first GLP-1 class treatment for this liver condition.
Efficacy Results: The approval is based on the ESSENCE trial results, showing that 62.9% of participants on Wegovy achieved resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis, compared to 34.3% on placebo.
Market Impact: Following the announcement, Novo Nordisk's shares rose nearly 4%, and Wegovy is expected to significantly contribute to the company's revenue from MASH treatments.
ETF Exposure: Several exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have substantial holdings in Novo Nordisk, including Roundhill GLP-1 & Weight Loss ETF, Amplify Weight Loss Drug & Treatment ETF, and VanEck Pharmaceutical ETF.
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Analyst Views on NVO
Wall Street analysts forecast NVO stock price to rise
8 Analyst Rating
4 Buy
3 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 37.760
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
Current: 37.760
Low
42.00
Averages
54.67
High
70.00
About NVO
Novo Nordisk A/S is a global healthcare company engaged in diabetes care. The Company is also engaged in the discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical products. The Company operates through two business segments: diabetes and obesity care, and biopharmaceuticals. The Company's diabetes and obesity care segment covers insulin, GLP-1, other protein-related products, such as glucagon, protein-related delivery systems and needles, and oral anti-diabetic drugs. The Company's biopharmaceuticals segment covers the therapy areas of hemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. The Company also offers Saxenda product to treat obesity. It offers a range of products, including NovoLog/NovoRapid; NovoLog Mix/NovoMix; Prandin/NovoNorm; NovoSeven; Norditropin, and Vagifem. As of December 31, 2016, it marketed its products in over 180 countries. Its regional structure consists of two commercial units: North America and International Operations.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Reaction: Following the FDA warning, Novo Nordisk's U.S.-listed shares (NVO) slipped nearly 1% in after-hours trading on Tuesday, despite having snapped a nine-session losing streak on Monday, only to decline nearly 3% again on Tuesday.
- Ad Content Controversy: The Ozempic advertisement mirrors Apple's 2006 “Get A Mac” campaign, with the FDA stating that the ad failed to provide evidence supporting Ozempic's superiority over other GLP-1 medications, which could mislead viewers.
- Tightening Regulatory Environment: This warning comes amid a broader regulatory crackdown on GLP-1 drug advertising, with the FDA recently issuing warning letters to 30 telehealth companies for promoting compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs with potentially misleading claims.
See More
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- Disappointing Clinical Trial Results: On February 23, 2026, Novo Nordisk announced that its experimental drug CagriSema failed to demonstrate non-inferiority in weight loss compared to Eli Lilly's rival drug tirzepatide, potentially impacting its competitive position in the market.
- Significant Stock Price Drop: Following the unfavorable clinical trial results, Novo Nordisk's American Depositary Receipt (ADR) fell by $7.79, or 16.43%, closing at $39.63 on February 23, 2026, reflecting market concerns about its future prospects.
- Potential Legal Consequences: The investigation could lead to class action lawsuits against Novo Nordisk, and if fraud is proven, it may have severe implications for the company's reputation and financial health, prompting investors to closely monitor developments.
See More
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- Sales Growth Dependency: Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound drugs achieved impressive sales growth of 99% and 175% in 2025, respectively, yet these two drugs account for nearly 45% of the company's total sales, raising concerns about the sustainability of such growth.
- Overvaluation Concerns: Despite the strong performance of Eli Lilly's drugs, its stock price has surged to a price-to-earnings ratio of 44, with a meager dividend yield of 0.6%, indicating that the market's expectations for future growth may be overly optimistic.
- Competitors' Opportunities: GLP-1 competitors Novo Nordisk and Pfizer offer more attractive investment profiles with dividend yields of 4.57% and 6.31%, respectively, and price-to-earnings ratios of 10 and 20, especially as Eli Lilly faces risks from patent expirations.
- Intensifying Industry Competition: While Eli Lilly's success in the GLP-1 space is notable, it may overshadow the risks it faces; as competition intensifies, the strong historical performance of Novo Nordisk and Pfizer could enable them to rebound in the market, presenting new opportunities for investors.
See More
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- Significant Sales Growth: Eli Lilly's Mounjaro and Zepbound drugs achieved sales increases of 99% and 175% respectively in 2025; however, such growth may not be sustainable, introducing uncertainty into the company's future performance.
- Market Share Risk: These two GLP-1 drugs account for 56% of Eli Lilly's total revenue, and with patent protections set to expire, the company may face a substantial revenue gap that could impact its long-term financial health.
- Competitor Dynamics: While Novo Nordisk and Pfizer lag in the GLP-1 market, Novo Nordisk recently launched an oral GLP-1 medication, and its dividend yield stands at 4.9%, indicating its ongoing competitiveness in the market.
- Investor Sentiment Analysis: Despite Eli Lilly's stock price surging due to market enthusiasm, resulting in a high P/E ratio of 44 and a meager dividend yield of 0.6%, analysts suggest that investors consider competitors like Novo Nordisk and Pfizer for potentially better returns.
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