Denmark's Novo Nordisk sees new insulin sales double in Q1

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk of Denmark saw sales of its new insulin Tresiba double in the first quarter of 2016, the company said here Friday.

Sales of the once-daily new-generation basal insulin analogue amounted to 545 million Danish kroner (83 million U.S. dollars) for the first three months of 2016, up 117 percent as compared to the same period last year, the company said in its quarterly financial statement.

In the United States, where Tresiba was launched in January 2016, early feedback from patients and prescribers is encouraging, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, Tresiba enjoyed a 33 percent share of the Japan's long-acting insulin market - the best market ratio for Tresiba globally.

First-quarter revenue stood at 27.2 billion kroner, up 8 percent from 25.2 billion kroner year on year.

Novo Nordisk saw its sales grow in all regions with U.S. market accounting for 64 percent share of growth as measured in local currencies.

Operating profit decreased by 10 percent in local currencies and 11 percent in Danish kroner to 12.3 billion kroner year on year.

The company maintained its previous forecast for 2016, saying it expects to see 5 to 9 percent growth in sales and operating profit when measured in local currencies.

However, given the current level of exchange rates versus the Danish kroner, Novo Nordisk now expects growth reported in Danish kroner to be around four percentage points lower than the local currency level.

Novo Nordisk is the world leader in diabetes care with a global value market share of 27 percent. It is also the world's largest insulin maker with 46 percent market share. (1 U.S. dollar = 6.565 Danish kroner) Endit