Obesity drugs - especially Novo Nordic's Ozempic - dominated healthcare headlines in 2024, but Matt Miskin of John Hancock Investment Management told Reuters there are lots of competitors bringing out innovative new drugs - and he believes the sector is a healthy bet for investors trying to move away from Big Tech.

The new treatment targets gut hormone GLP-1 but also mimics amylin, a hormone released by the pancreas that suppresses hunger.

Finally, some good news for Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) shareholders! Twice in the past two months, the Danish manufacturer of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss and diabetes treatment has reported clinical trial results for refinements of its original Ozempic and Wegovy drugs.

Here are some of the major companies whose stocks moved on the week’s news.

Novo Nordisk's U.S.-listed shares are surging 9% Friday morning after the Danish drugmaker reported early stage results for its amycretin weight-loss drug.

Novo is currently in a golden age of growth. Over the last five years, its trailing-12-month revenue grew by 109%, reaching $39.3 billion, thanks to its portfolio of potent drugs for cardiometabolic illnesses like diabetes and obesity.

Novo Nordisk shares jumped on Friday as the Danish drugmaker said an experimental drug was able to reduce weight by as much as 22%.

Novo Nordisk (NVO) stock jumped 12% in pre-market trading Friday after it released promising results of an early-stage weight loss drug trial.

Turning to 2025 guidance, Lilly noted that new medicines and new uses of existing medicines, expansion of production, and global expansion of sales of its diabetes and weight loss drugs should all add up to strong, 32% sales growth in the new year. The company forecasts 2025 sales of $58 billion to $61 billion.