Novo Nordisk has appointed Maziar Mike Doustdar as its new President and CEO, effective August 7, 2025, succeeding Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen. The Danish pharmaceutical giant, known for its weight-loss drug Wegovy, has faced a sharp decline in its share price, which plunged over 25% following a profit warning and a downward revision of its full-year sales and profit outlook. The company now anticipates 2025 sales growth of 8% to 14% and operating profit growth of 10% to 16%, citing weaker demand for its obesity drugs Wegovy and Ozempic in the second half of 2025. This comes amid increasing competition in the obesity drug market and concerns about Novo Nordisk losing its leading position. The share price decline has erased nearly all gains since the launch of Wegovy, wiping out approximately $70 billion in market value. Meanwhile, the U.S. government under the Trump administration is planning an experimental program to cover weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro, and Zepbound under Medicare and Medicaid. This pilot program is expected to begin in January 2027 for Medicare and April 2026 for Medicaid, potentially impacting over 135 million enrollees and benefiting major drugmakers including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. The move signals a policy shift that could expand access to GLP-1 drugs and boost the market, which is valued at over $150 billion. Additionally, research indicates that semaglutide, the active ingredient in drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, may have benefits beyond weight loss, including slowing biological aging in people with HIV-associated lipohypertrophy. The broader economic implications are notable, as Novo Nordisk's performance is closely tied to Denmark's economic outlook. Indian pharmaceutical companies are also preparing to launch generic versions of semaglutide following patent expiration around March 2026, which could further impact the market dynamics.