By Anna Molin
STOCKHOLM--Danish insulin maker Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) on
Thursday raised its full-year operating profit growth target as
strong sales of its diabetes drugs led to a bigger-than-expected
19% rise in second-quarter net profit.
Second quarter net profit rose to 8.34 billion Danish kroner
($1.22 billion) from DKK6.99 billion in the same period a year
earlier, above analysts' expectations of DKK8.21 billion, according
to a FactSet poll.
Operating profit rose 43% to DKK12.5 billion on net sales of
DKK27.1 billion, up 25% on the year.
The pharmaceutical company kept its outlook for full-year sales
growth in local currencies at 7%-9% but lifted its forecast for
operating profit growth in local currencies to around 19%, up from
around 17% previously.
The company said sales of its diabetes drugs grew in all regions
with North America being the main driver.
-Write to Anna Molin at anna.molin@wsj.com; Twitter:
@WSJNordics
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