Novo Nordisk share price rose nearly 5% on August 18, 2025. The hike came after the US Food and Drug Administration granted the company accelerated approval for its best-selling obesity drug Wegovy. The drug will be used in treating metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH).
The decision marks the first time a GLP-1 therapy has been authorized for the progressive liver condition. The Danish drugmaker confirmed on August 15, 2025, that Wegovy is now approved for use in adults with moderate to advanced liver fibrosis. The treatment should also be supported by lifestyle changes such as a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity.
The news sent Novo Nordisk’s stock nearly 5% up on London Stock Exchange in early trading. MASH, a form of fatty liver disease, affects an estimated 5% of adults in the United States. It can progress to severe liver damage and has so far had limited treatment options.
Novo Nordisk shares on NYSE show gains of 2.87% at press time:
Before Wegovy’s clearance, the only FDA-approved therapy for MASH was Madrigal Pharmaceuticals’ Rezdiffra, approved in 2024. The approval builds on Wegovy’s expanding clinical profile, which already includes proven benefits in weight management and reducing cardiovascular risks such as heart attack and stroke.
Martin Holst Lange, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president and chief scientific officer, said the drug is now ‘uniquely positioned’ as the first and only GLP-1 treatment for MASH. The FDA’s decision was based on the first phase of Novo Nordisk’s ESSENCE trial. Results showed that nearly 63% of patients receiving Wegovy experienced resolution of steatohepatitis without worsening fibrosis, compared with just over 34% on placebo.
Additionally, 36.8% of Wegovy-treated patients showed fibrosis improvement without worsening liver inflammation, versus 22.4% in the placebo group. Wegovy will be made available in the US immediately for MASH patients, while the second phase of the ESSENCE study is expected to conclude in 2029.
Novo Nordisk share price increase signals strong investor confidence. FDA’s approval positions Wegovy beyond its established obesity and cardiovascular indications. It has opened access to a vast, underserved patient population afflicted by a chronic liver disease with no previously approved pharmacological treatments.
The market's immediate positive reaction underscores the perceived revenue potential and strategic advantage gained by Novo Nordisk. Hence, bolstering its therapeutic pipeline and reinforcing its leadership in metabolic health.
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