NVO Stock Plummets as Novo Nordisk Heart Drug Fails Late-Stage Trial

Novo Nordisk shares slid sharply on Friday after the company reported disappointing headline results from a late-stage cardiovascular trial. The Danish drugmaker said its experimental anti-inflammatory candidate, ziltivekimab, failed to meet the primary endpoint of reducing major adverse cardiovascular events in high-risk patients. The Phase 3 ZEUS trial tested monthly 15 mg doses in more than 6,300 participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and systemic inflammation. While the treatment inhibited the IL-6 inflammatory pathway as expected, it did not reduce rates of heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular deaths versus placebo. Investors viewed the outcome as bearish because ziltivekimab was a key plan to diversify revenue beyond its GLP-1 franchise. With Q2 earnings due Aug. 5, consensus EPS is $0.81.