Novo Nordisk Refocuses on Diabetes and Obesity to Expand GLP-1 Market at JPM26

Novo Nordisk CEO Maziar Mike Doustdar announced at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (JPM26) a strategic refocus on diabetes and obesity, targeting 2 billion people globally with these conditions, while narrowing core business from prior diversification into rare diseases and other areas.125

The company will prioritize patients with diabetes, obesity, or overweight as the starting point for programs outside rare diseases, only pursuing other indications if they are comorbidities.16

Novo launched the first U.S. oral GLP-1 weight-loss pill, Wegovy (oral semaglutide), early 2026 after FDA approval in late December 2025, emphasizing market expansion beyond injectables to reach more patients.13

Doustdar expressed confidence in regaining obesity market leadership from Eli Lilly through renewed focus, business development like potential big acquisitions, and increasing uptake among the 85-90 million untreated U.S. patients.1

Novo's pipeline includes next-gen assets like CagriSema and higher-dose semaglutide (7.2mg filing in November 2025), with priorities on sustainable growth, strong R&D, and external innovation in diabetes and obesity.347

Sources:

1. https://www.biospace.com/business/jpm26-novo-refocuses-on-diabetes-and-obesity-amid-push-to-expand-glp-1-market

2. https://www.novonordisk.com/news-and-media/latest-news/j-p--morgen-conference.html

3. https://www.iqvia.com/locations/emea/blogs/2026/01/outlook-for-obesity-in-2026

4. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/biotech/laden-glp-1-cash-novo-nordisk-craves-different-flavors-pipeline-innovation-exec-says

5. https://firstwordpharma.com/story/7063440

6. https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/jpm26-novo-nordisk-ceo-reflects-curse-leader-company-looks-reassert-glp-1-footing

7. https://www.novonordisk.com/science-and-technology/r-d-pipeline.html