Danish pharmaceutical group Novo Nordisk has cut sales and profit forecasts after replica drugs hit take-up of its blockbuster GLP-1 obesity and diabetes medicines Wegovy and Ozempic in the US.

The company beat operating profit forecasts for the first quarter of the year but said it had been hit by compounding — preparations custom-made by pharmacies using the active ingredients of patented drugs.

“In the first quarter of 2025, we delivered 18 per cent sales growth and continued to expand the reach of our innovative GLP-1 treatments,” said Lars Fruergaard J?rgensen, president and chief executive. “However, we have reduced our full-year outlook due to lower-than-planned branded GLP-1 penetration, which is impacted by the rapid expansion of compounding in the US.”