Finance
New play in Denmark charts Novo Nordisk's weight loss boom
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on January 30, 2026
2 min readLast updated: January 30, 2026
Quick Summary
A new Danish play explores Novo Nordisk's rise in the weight loss market, its economic impact, and ethical considerations in drug production.
Danish Play Explores Novo Nordisk's Surge in Weight Loss Market
Novo Nordisk's Impact on Health and Economy
ALLEROD, Denmark, Jan 30 (Reuters) - A play examining the meteoric rise of Danish weight-loss drug giant Novo Nordisk will premiere on Saturday at a theatre outside Copenhagen.
"The Golden Calf" tells the story of August and Marie Krogh, the Danish couple who founded Nordisk Insulinlaboratorium in 1923, a precursor to Novo Nordisk that's now valued at $200 billion.
The company had a market capitalization larger than the entire Danish economy at its peak and is now battling with U.S. rival Eli Lilly to dominate the global obesity drug market.
The Story Behind Novo Nordisk
"It's a piece of our common story about these two scientists who get insulin to Denmark and start this huge snowball that becomes Novo Nordisk," the play's director Nicolei Faber told Reuters, adding the play was made without Novo's involvement.
Challenges in the Weight Loss Drug Market
The second part explores the drugmaker's evolution into a global behemoth through its GLP-1 drugs Wegovy for weight-loss and Ozempic treatment for diabetes.
The firm became Europe's most valuable in June 2024, before mounting competition and slowing growth led it to announce plans to cut 9,000 jobs globally, including 5,000 in Denmark.
"Everybody has some relationship to Novo Nordisk and everybody's pension has stocks in Novo," said Sebastian Henry Aagaard-Williams, an actor in the play, which will be performed at the Mungo Park theatre around 30 km (19 miles) north of Copenhagen.
Ethical Considerations in Drug Production
But while widely promoted GLP-1 drugs have proven effective weight-loss treatments for many people, they are also costly and may need to be ongoing, bringing dilemmas for patients, insurers and public health systems.
"Do they produce this medicine to earn money or to help people who are sick? And where's the balance between these two things?" director Faber said.
Novo says its drugs bring significant health benefits that could help reduce long-term health care costs and has defended payments to U.S. medical professionals as necessary for research, education and raising awareness about obesity. The company declined to comment on the play.
(Reporting by Tom Little, writing by Jagoda Darlak, editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Key Takeaways
- •Novo Nordisk's rise in the weight loss market is explored in a new play.
- •The play highlights the company's historical and economic impact.
- •Novo Nordisk faces challenges from competitors like Eli Lilly.
- •Ethical considerations of drug production are discussed.
- •The play is performed at Mungo Park theatre near Copenhagen.
Frequently Asked Questions about New play in Denmark charts Novo Nordisk's weight loss boom
1What are GLP-1 drugs?
GLP-1 drugs are medications that mimic the action of the glucagon-like peptide-1 hormone, helping to regulate blood sugar levels and promote weight loss.
2What is market capitalization?
Market capitalization is the total market value of a company's outstanding shares, calculated by multiplying the share price by the total number of shares.
3What is a weight loss drug?
A weight loss drug is a medication designed to help individuals lose weight by reducing appetite, increasing feelings of fullness, or decreasing fat absorption.
4What is ethical drug production?
Ethical drug production refers to the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals in a manner that prioritizes patient safety, efficacy, and moral responsibility.
