Novo Nordisk CFO voices confidence in diabetes portfolio growth

Novo Nordisk's chief financial officer (CFO) Jesper Brandgaard has voiced confidence that the company's diabetes portfolio will continue to grow despite the increasingly competitive nature of the market.

In an interview with Investor's Business Daily, Mr Brandgaard said the company believes its leading product Victoza will continue to record strong growth, thanks to the advantages it offers compared to its rivals.

He pointed to its strong efficacy and convenient disposable pen-based administration method, which have helped to drive an 82 percent surge in sales during the first half of this year.

The CFO also observed that 78 percent of Novo Nordisk's turnover comes from diabetes care, meaning the firm continues to benefit from the growing demand for diabetes therapies thanks to its broad portfolio of high-value insulin products.

He added that the firm remains "really focused on our diabetes care franchise, noting that this has been "the prime part of our business ever since 1923".

Novo Nordisk is also currently working on a number of innovative new therapies, including IDegLira, a fixed-ratio combination of insulin degludec and liraglutide that has demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials.