According to TV2, in a report published early Wednesday morning, Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced its decision to halt clinical trials intended to determine whether the drug Ozempic could be used to treat kidney failure in diabetic patients, a year ahead of schedule.
The company said in a press release late Tuesday that preliminary analysis indicates the treatment will be successful, and immediately after this news, Novo Nordisk's shares in the United States rose by 2.5%.
The company reached its decision based on the recommendation of the independent data inspection body that oversees clinical trials, according to the source.
According to Reuters, independent data inspectors can recommend halting clinical trials early if there is clear evidence that the drug in question either works or does not work.
According to Novo Nordisk, as reported by TV2, the clinical trial aimed to investigate whether Ozembek could delay the progression of chronic kidney disease and reduce the risk of death from kidney and heart problems.
One of the giants of European companies
On the weight loss drug Wegovy, Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide.
Since the beginning of the year, this component has helped propel Novo Nordisk into a company whose market value today is around 2,200 billion Danish kroner, and Novo Nordisk briefly became the most valuable company in Europe when, in September, its market value surpassed that of luxury goods group LLVMH, owner of brands such as Louis Vuitton.
Since Novo Nordisk stated last August that the drug Wegovy is also beneficial for the cardiovascular system, the company's stock has risen by 17%, and according to economists, Novo Nordisk's commercial success has had a significant positive impact on the Danish economy, according to the source.
