Approval of Novo’s Rybelsus gives diabetes patients first oral option in GLP-1R class

FDA’s approval Friday of Rybelsus, the first oral GLP-1R agonist for diabetes, brings across the finish line a critical drug for Novo Nordisk’s growth strategy after the company prioritized best-in-class R&D three years ago.

After the company’s total sales growth fell to single digits in 2014 and its modern insulin franchise saw declining sales in 2016, Novo Nordisk A/S (CSE:NOVO B; NYSE:NVO) refocused exclusively on products that substantially improve outcomes for patients and payers, with its semaglutide program positioned as its best opportunity for near-term growth (see “Mountain Climbing”)...