Novo Nordisk (Ozempic)

Last year Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, overtook LVMH to become Europe’s most valuable company. And the pull for Acquired to finally tackle healthcare (18% of US GDP!) became too strong for us to resist. While we didn’t know much about Novo Nordisk before diving in, our first thought was, “wow, seems like these new diabetes and obesity drugs mean serious trouble for big insulin companies.”

And then… we realized that Novo Nordisk IS the big insulin company. And in a story befitting of Steve Jobs and Apple, they’d just disrupted themselves with the drug equivalent of an iPhone moment. Once we dug further, we quickly realized this company has it all: an incredible 100+ year history filled with Nobel Prizes, bitter personal rivalries, board room dramas, a generation-defining silicon valley innovation, lone voices persevering against all odds — and oh yeah, the world’s largest charitable foundation at its helm. Tune in for one incredible story!

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Links:

Chart: US Healthcare Spend by Category

Chart: US Distribution and Reimbursement System (for pharmaceutical drugs)

Chart: Insulin Supply Chain

YouTube Talk: What People Get Wrong about the Finances of the Drug Industry

Alex Telford: The pharma industry from Paul Janssen to today: why drugs got harder to develop and what we can do about it

Out-of-Pocket Health: Obesity Drugs

Out-of-Pocket Health: US Healthcare System Problems

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Carve Outs:

Noxgear Tracer 2 running vest

Drops of God

Wool by Hugh Howey

Mere Mortals at San Francisco Ballet

Blackberry

Note: Acquired hosts and guests may hold assets discussed in this episode. This podcast is not investment advice, and is intended for informational and entertainment purposes only. You should do your own research and make your own independent decisions when considering any financial transactions. © Copyright ACQ, LLC

[ashka]

Thanks for the podcast. I've listed to all of it over a few days. I was very interesting and educating. You two have a good story telling skills.

[goodsir]

Great podcast I cant believe how long it took me to find this when I was searching for Novo Nordisk but glad I did

[MinhPhan-sfhk]

damn, big fan of ACQ for a while but this one is the best ever!!! so so interesting!

[vijaymaram]

I binge listened the whole episode. think this is a great peice of work. Great story telling skills. I was never boared. Good analogies to other industries. I really liked the 7 powers. lastly, i am from pharma and i agree with most of points. Great research, keep doign more.

[mohammedajmal]

Heard the Starbucks episode and came here for another episode! Just amazed at the depth of research and conversations !

[Ryan.G.Spalding]

Thank you for entertaining me while hanging Christmas lights. Happy Holidays!

[sidshot]

Great podcast, as a type 1 diabetic I leant so much about the history of insulin and the companies history on how they got to today.

[misium]

Type II diabetes starts as imsulin resistance. There is plenty of good insulin, but the body doesnt react to it. After several years of progression Insulin production subsides and bocomes a lack of insulin.

[crecer_y_emprender]

Excellent! This prepared me for an interview with them very well!
Their current earnings are astronomic...

[TrangVu-jjcm]

Can someone tell me if they take the LVHM episode down? I couldn’t find it
😊

[BentleyBeard]

Great episode, would love you guys to do an episode on Abbvie and Humira.

[jonathanbradshaw]

Insulin is used for type 1 diabetes! This is for people whose insulin producing cells do not work.

Ozempic… etc act on type 2 diabetes (poor diet and obesity induced diabetes). Insulin resistance.

Insulin drugs are not used to treat this type of diabetes. Therefore novo nordisk is cornering both sides of the market.

[kuronokagami]

Save on gym membership and the food bill whats not to like, just hopefully no longterm side effects

[viruldewnaka]

Are you better off this industry after completely watching this podcast?