On Friday, shares of Novo Nordisk came under significant pressure in Nasdaq Nordic trading, falling by 4.46 percent to 834.2 Danish kroner. Thus, they were the laggard in the select index Stoxx Europe 50, which remained overall stable. The decline in Novo Nordisk's share price, which had already started on Thursday with a loss of nearly three percent, followed the release of study data from a US competitor.

Amgen, a competitor in the pharmaceutical industry, shared encouraging initial results of a clinical trial for a new anti-obesity drug. This news increased investor concerns about growing competition for Novo Nordisk's weight loss medication Wegovy, whose recent sales figures had already fallen short of high market expectations.

The market's positive reaction to the announcement from Amgen was reflected in a 14 percent increase in share prices in pre-market US trading. The CEO of Amgen expressed great confidence in the potential of the new drug, which is situated in a rapidly growing market segment.

Developments suggest that Novo Nordisk must prepare for increased competition as the industry continues to experience dynamic changes and innovations. This situation highlights the importance of continuous research and development in the pharmaceutical sector, especially in areas with high economic potential such as the treatment of obesity.