UPDATE 1-Wegovy maker Novo Nordisk sales rise 18% in second quarter

Wegovy-maker Novo Nordisk reported second-quarter sales up 18% on Wednesday, below initial analyst expectations, after a major profit warning and new CEO announcement last week wiped some $95 billion of value from the company's stock. The Danish drugmaker, which boomed to become Europe's most valuable firm worth some $650 billion last year on the back of sales of its blockbuster weight-loss drug, is facing a pivotal moment as it battles rising competition that is denting sales. The company repeated its full-year guidance, days after slashing its 2025 sales outlook and replacing CEO Lars Fruergaard Jorgensen with veteran insider Maziar Mike Doustdar. Its market cap has fallen since peak to some $212 billion. "We are taking measures to sharpen our commercial execution further, and ensure efficiencies in our cost base while continuing to invest in future growth," outgoing CEO Jorgensen said in a statement. Doustdar will take the helm on Thursday, with the firm facing tough questions from investors about how it can stay competitive in the booming weight-loss drug market against U.S. rival Eli Lilly and a wave of compounded copycat versions.

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